.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Elderly Person WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA writer since 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years.Writer of 2 booksPARIS-- The mixture of A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart has actually confirmed to be a devasting mix for the Staff United States women, relevant where there is a situation creating that they could possibly discuss the Olympics Many Prized Possession Player Award.But there's a brand new duo developing, though certainly not an unexpected one, that's verified to be a large improvement as the Americans work toward yet another gold medal.Las Las vega Aces allies Kelsey Plum as well as Jackie Youthful have actually improved to be difference-makers in France and played vital roles in Staff USA's 88-74 triumph over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It signified the crew's 59th consecutive Olympic triumph and also puts together a semifinal matchup against Australia, champions over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful finished with double-digit aspects for the second straight activity, shooting 60% coming from the industry in the USA' get Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Young in to the starting sequence instead of pro Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a crew recognized for playing higher stress full-court defense that challenges opposing guards.It was a benefit after Youthful scored 19 factors with four takes off the bench in the ultimate pool play video game against Germany. She reacted with another great functionality, enjoying with power at each points along with an additional Aces colleague, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young racked up 15 points and aided carry the U.S. offense early in the activity as the Americans got off to a little a sluggish beginning by their standards.Nigeria was behind by merely 4 factors midway with the second quarter. That is actually when Reeve went to Plum, that was actually the 12th and also final gamer to go into the game for the Americans. Plum immediately changed the activity with her passing as well as rate on the outrageous end, giving out 3 fast supports and toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum finished with merely six points however her six-minute switch to end up the very first one-half caused a plus-11 on the scoreboard to drive the trigger 19 at fifty percent. The united state then began the 2nd fifty percent on a 15-0 operate as well as the stress and anxiety was actually done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson as well as Stewart, that entered into the game averaging a matching 20.3 scores per activity, played their label of experienced oppressor sphere. Wilson invested twenty factors on 9-of-11 capturing with 11 rebounds and 2 blocks. Stewart possessed 13 points on 5-of-7 capturing along with 5 rebounds and also 3 assists.Brittney Griner went over the seat to credit rating 11 ideas on 4-of-5 firing. Those three internal markers integrating for 16-of-21 is hard to beat.The united state got in the game balancing 29 assists and once again applied a ball-sharing medical clinic through assembling 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the lead up to as reduced as thirteen in the 4th quarter, with 19 scores. The game ended with a little bit of upper hand when the united state's Kahleah Copper acquired a specialized filthy for tossing the reception at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the final few seconds.