.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Elderly Person WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA writer due to the fact that 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Author of two booksPARIS-- The combination of A'ja Wilson as well as Breanna Stewart has actually shown to be a devasting combo for the Staff U.S.A. ladies, to the point where there is actually a situation cultivating that they can discuss the Olympics A lot of Belongings Player Award.But there's a new duo emerging, though not an unexpected one, that is actually proved to become a major boost as the Americans work toward another gold medal.Las Vegas Aces teammates Kelsey Plum as well as Jackie Young have actually stepped up to become difference-makers in France and also participated in key roles in Staff U.S.A.'s 88-74 victory over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It indicated the crew's 59th successive Olympic success and sets up a semifinal matchup versus Australia, champions over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful do with double-digit factors for the 2nd upright activity, shooting 60% from the field in the United States' get Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Young in to the starting sequence in place of expert Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a team understood for participating in high tension full-court self defense that challenges opposing guards.It was actually a perks after Youthful racked up 19 factors along with four steals off the bench in the ultimate swimming pool play activity versus Germany. She responded along with one more great efficiency, playing with electricity at each points together with an additional Aces teammate, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young racked up 15 points as well as aided hold the united state outburst early in the game as the Americans left to a bit of a lethargic start through their standards.Nigeria lagged by merely four aspects midway via the second fourth. That is actually when Reeve visited Plum, that was the 12th and final player to go into the ready the Americans. Plum promptly changed the activity along with her death and rate on the offensive end, dishing out 3 fast aids and also nailing a 3-pointer. Plum completed with just six aspects yet her six-minute change to end up the initial half led to a plus-11 on the scoreboard to drive the result in 19 at one-half. The U.S. after that started the second fifty percent on a 15-0 operate and also the anxiety was provided for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and also Stewart, that entered into the activity balancing a matching 20.3 points per activity, played their label of proficient oppressor ball. Wilson placed in twenty factors on 9-of-11 shooting with 11 rebounds and also 2 blocks. Stewart possessed 13 factors on 5-of-7 capturing with 5 rebounds and 3 assists.Brittney Griner came off the seat to credit rating 11 ideas on 4-of-5 capturing. Those three indoor markers mixing for 16-of-21 is actually difficult to beat.The USA got into the video game balancing 29 supports and once again applied a ball-sharing facility by putting together 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which cut the lead up to as reduced as 13 in the 4th quarter, along with 19 points. The activity ended with a little bit of upper hand when the USA's Kahleah Copper received a technical nasty for tossing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the final secs.