.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Elder WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA author since 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Author of 2 booksPARIS-- The mix of A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart has proven to become a devasting combo for the Group U.S.A. ladies, relevant where there is actually a case creating that they might discuss the Olympics Most Prized Possession Gamer Award.But there's a brand-new duo surfacing, though certainly not an unusual one, that's shown to be a significant increase as the Americans work toward another gold medal.Las Vegas Aces teammates Kelsey Plum and also Jackie Youthful have actually boosted to become difference-makers in France and also participated in crucial parts in Crew U.S.A.'s 88-74 triumph over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It indicated the staff's 59th consecutive Olympic triumph as well as puts together a semifinal matchup against Australia, winners over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful completed with double-digit factors for the second upright video game, shooting 60% coming from the area in the United States' sway Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve moved Young in to the starting lineup instead of professional Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a crew understood for participating in high tension full-court protection that tests setting against guards.It was an incentive after Youthful scored 19 aspects along with 4 swipes off the bench in the ultimate pool play video game against Germany. She answered along with yet another exceptional performance, playing with electricity at both points alongside one more Aces teammate, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 points as well as aided hold the united state offense early in the activity as the Americans left to a little a slow-moving start through their standards.Nigeria was behind through simply 4 aspects midway with the second one-fourth. That's when Reeve visited Plum, that was actually the 12th and also last player to get in the ready the Americans. Plum immediately altered the video game along with her passing and velocity on the repulsive point, serving up three quick helps and also toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum finished with simply 6 factors but her six-minute change to end up the very first fifty percent resulted in a plus-11 on the scoreboard to drive the cause 19 at fifty percent. The U.S. at that point began the second half on a 15-0 run and the stress was actually created for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and also Stewart, who came into the video game balancing a matching 20.3 points every video game, played their label of skilled tormenter ball. Wilson put in twenty factors on 9-of-11 shooting with 11 rebounds and pair of blocks. Stewart had 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting along with 5 rebounds as well as 3 assists.Brittney Griner went over the seat to rating 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting. Those three interior markers mixing for 16-of-21 is actually tough to beat.The USA got into the activity balancing 29 supports and also once more applied a ball-sharing facility by setting up 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the lead up to as low as 13 in the fourth quarter, along with 19 scores. The activity finished with a little edge when the USA's Kahleah Copper acquired a technical repulsive for throwing the reception at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the final seconds.