.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA author because 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Writer of 2 booksPARIS-- The combination of A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart has actually shown to be a devasting combo for the Staff United States girls, to the point where there is a scenario building that they might share the Olympics A lot of Valuable Player Award.But there is actually a brand-new duo arising, though not a surprising one, that is actually verified to become a major improvement as the Americans work toward yet another gold medal.Las Las vega Aces teammates Kelsey Plum as well as Jackie Youthful have actually stepped up to be difference-makers in France as well as played vital tasks in Crew USA's 88-74 victory over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It signified the staff's 59th successive Olympic victory and also establishes a semifinal competition versus Australia, champions over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful do with double-digit aspects for the 2nd upright video game, shooting 60% from the area in the United States' draw Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve moved Youthful in to the beginning lineup instead of pro Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a crew recognized for playing high stress full-court self defense that tests setting against guards.It was actually an incentive after Youthful scored 19 aspects along with four takes off the bench in the ultimate pool play video game versus Germany. She answered with another outstanding performance, having fun with energy at both points together with yet another Aces colleague, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 factors as well as helped hold the USA outburst early in the activity as the Americans got off to a little a slow-moving start by their standards.Nigeria lagged by only four factors midway with the second quarter. That's when Reeve headed to Plum, who was actually the 12th and also final player to go into the game for the Americans. Plum promptly modified the activity along with her passing and also velocity on the offending point, dispensing 3 fast assists as well as nailing a 3-pointer. Plum completed with merely six points yet her six-minute shift to finish the initial fifty percent caused a plus-11 on the scoreboard to drive the cause 19 at one-half. The USA at that point began the second half on a 15-0 run and also the tension was provided for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and Stewart, that entered into the video game averaging a matching 20.3 scores per activity, played their label of skillful oppressor round. Wilson invested 20 factors on 9-of-11 shooting along with 11 rebounds and pair of blocks. Stewart had thirteen points on 5-of-7 shooting along with five rebounds as well as three assists.Brittney Griner went over the seat to credit rating 11 points on 4-of-5 firing. Those three internal scorers mixing for 16-of-21 is actually difficult to beat.The united state entered into the activity balancing 29 supports and once again placed on a ball-sharing facility through putting together 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the lead down to as low as thirteen in the fourth one-fourth, along with 19 scores. The activity ended along with a little bit of upper hand when the USA's Kahleah Copper obtained a specialized nasty for tossing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the final few seconds.