.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA article writer because 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years.Author of two booksPARIS-- The combo of A'ja Wilson as well as Breanna Stewart has actually verified to become a devasting combination for the Group U.S.A. women, relevant where there is a situation developing that they could possibly share the Olympics Most Valuable Gamer Award.But there's a new duo developing, though not an unusual one, that's confirmed to be a big increase as the Americans pursue another gold medal.Las Las vega Aces allies Kelsey Plum and also Jackie Young have actually stepped up to become difference-makers in France and participated in crucial functions in Group U.S.A.'s 88-74 victory over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It indicated the staff's 59th successive Olympic victory as well as establishes a semifinal competition against Australia, victors over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful finished with double-digit aspects for the 2nd straight video game, shooting 60% coming from the area in the United States' get Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Young into the starting sequence instead of professional Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a crew known for participating in high stress full-court defense that tests setting against guards.It was a perks after Youthful scored 19 aspects with 4 swipes off the seat in the last pool play game against Germany. She responded along with one more exceptional efficiency, playing with energy at both ends along with an additional Aces ally, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young racked up 15 points and aided lug the U.S. offense early in the game as the Americans got off to a little a slow-moving beginning by their standards.Nigeria lagged by just four points midway through the second one-fourth. That's when Reeve mosted likely to Plum, who was actually the 12th as well as ultimate gamer to go into the game for the Americans. Plum instantaneously modified the activity along with her passing away as well as speed on the annoying point, dishing out 3 simple aids and toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum do with just 6 factors yet her six-minute switch to finish the very first half caused a plus-11 on the scoreboard to press the cause 19 at one-half. The USA then started the 2nd fifty percent on a 15-0 operate and also the anxiety was actually created for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson as well as Stewart, that entered into the game balancing a matching 20.3 scores every activity, played their brand name of professional oppressor ball. Wilson invested twenty points on 9-of-11 shooting with 11 rebounds and two blocks. Stewart had thirteen points on 5-of-7 firing along with 5 rebounds as well as 3 assists.Brittney Griner went over the bench to rating 11 ideas on 4-of-5 shooting. Those three internal markers blending for 16-of-21 is actually difficult to beat.The U.S. entered the activity balancing 29 supports as well as once more put on a ball-sharing medical clinic by setting up 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the top to as reduced as 13 in the 4th quarter, along with 19 points. The video game finished along with a little bit of edge when the USA's Kahleah Copper acquired a technical filthy for tossing the reception at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the final secs.