.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Elderly Person WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA article writer considering that 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years.Writer of two booksPARIS-- The combo of A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart has actually confirmed to become a devasting combo for the Group United States ladies, to the point where there is a scenario establishing that they could possibly discuss the Olympics Many Valuable Player Award.But there is actually a brand-new duo emerging, though not a surprising one, that is actually confirmed to become a major improvement 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 played vital parts in Team U.S.A.'s 88-74 triumph over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It denoted the crew's 59th consecutive Olympic victory and also sets up a semifinal competition against Australia, winners over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Young completed with double-digit aspects for the 2nd upright activity, shooting 60% from the field in the United States' get Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Youthful in to the beginning sequence in place of professional Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a crew understood for participating in higher stress full-court defense that tests setting against guards.It was actually a benefit after Youthful racked up 19 aspects along with 4 steals off the bench in the last pool play video game against Germany. She answered with another exceptional efficiency, enjoying with electricity at each ends along with an additional Aces colleague, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young racked up 15 factors as well as helped lug the united state offense early in the activity as the Americans left to a little bit of a slow-moving start by their standards.Nigeria lagged through merely 4 points midway with the 2nd one-fourth. That is actually when Reeve visited Plum, that was the 12th and also last player to enter into the ready the Americans. Plum immediately changed the activity along with her passing away and speed on the outrageous end, giving out three fast assists and nailing a 3-pointer. Plum completed with only six aspects yet her six-minute change to end up the very first fifty percent led to a plus-11 on the scoreboard to drive the cause 19 at half. The USA after that started the 2nd one-half on a 15-0 operate and the tension was actually done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and also Stewart, who entered the game averaging a matching 20.3 points per game, played their brand name of skilled tormenter ball. Wilson invested 20 points on 9-of-11 firing along with 11 rebounds and 2 blocks. Stewart had 13 factors on 5-of-7 shooting along with five rebounds and also three assists.Brittney Griner came off the bench to score 11 ideas on 4-of-5 firing. Those 3 indoor scorers combining for 16-of-21 is difficult to beat.The U.S. got into the activity balancing 29 helps and also once again placed on a ball-sharing clinic by putting together 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the lead to as low as 13 in the 4th one-fourth, along with 19 scores. The video game ended along with a little bit of upper hand when the USA's Kahleah Copper obtained a technical nasty for throwing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she racked up in the last secs.