.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA article writer due to the fact that 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Author of 2 booksPARIS-- The mixture of A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart has confirmed to be a devasting mix for the Team USA ladies, relevant where there is a situation cultivating that they might share the Olympics Most Valuable Player Award.But there is actually a brand-new duo surfacing, though not an astonishing one, that's confirmed to become a major increase as the Americans pursue another gold medal.Las Las vega Aces allies Kelsey Plum as well as Jackie Youthful have improved to be difference-makers in France and played essential tasks in Team U.S.A.'s 88-74 triumph over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It signified the group's 59th successive Olympic victory as well as sets up a semifinal matchup versus Australia, victors 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 area in the United States' get Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Young right into the beginning sequence in place of pro Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a group known for playing high pressure full-court self defense that challenges opposing guards.It was actually an incentive after Youthful scored 19 factors along with 4 takes off the seat in the last pool play game against Germany. She answered with one more superb efficiency, having fun with power at both points alongside yet another Aces teammate, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 points and helped carry the U.S. offense early in the game as the Americans got off to a bit of a sluggish begin through their standards.Nigeria lagged by only 4 aspects midway through the 2nd fourth. That is actually when Reeve went to Plum, that was actually the 12th and last player to get in the ready the Americans. Plum instantly changed the activity along with her passing and rate on the offending end, serving up three easy aids as well as toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum do with only six points but her six-minute shift to finish the initial fifty percent led to a plus-11 on the scoreboard to push the cause 19 at one-half. The USA at that point started the second half on a 15-0 operate and also the stress and anxiety was created for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson as well as Stewart, that came into the game averaging a matching 20.3 scores per video game, played their company of skilled bully round. Wilson invested 20 factors on 9-of-11 firing with 11 rebounds as well as two blocks. Stewart possessed thirteen aspects on 5-of-7 capturing with five rebounds and three assists.Brittney Griner came off the bench to rating 11 ideas on 4-of-5 capturing. Those 3 internal markers incorporating for 16-of-21 is actually challenging to beat.The united state went into the game balancing 29 assists and once again applied a ball-sharing facility by putting together 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the lead down to as low as 13 in the 4th quarter, along with 19 scores. The activity ended with a little bit of upper hand when the U.S.'s Kahleah Copper obtained a technological repulsive for tossing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she racked up in the ultimate seconds.