.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA writer because 2010.Dealt With Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Writer of two booksPARIS-- The mixture of A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart has proven to be a devasting mixture for the Crew United States ladies, relevant where there is actually an instance building that they might discuss the Olympics A lot of Belongings Gamer Award.But there is actually a brand new duo developing, though not an unusual one, that is actually shown to be a large increase as the Americans pursue an additional gold medal.Las Las vega Aces teammates Kelsey Plum as well as Jackie Youthful have actually improved to become difference-makers in France and also played vital functions in Team U.S.A.'s 88-74 triumph over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It indicated the group's 59th consecutive Olympic victory and sets up a semifinal competition versus Australia, champions over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful completed with double-digit factors for the second straight video game, firing 60% from the field in the USA' gain Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Youthful in to the starting lineup instead of professional Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a staff understood for playing higher stress full-court protection that tests setting against guards.It was actually a reward after Youthful scored 19 aspects along with four swipes off the bench in the final pool play game against Germany. She answered with yet another great functionality, having fun with electricity at both points together with one more Aces colleague, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 aspects as well as helped carry the united state outburst early in the game as the Americans got off to a bit of a lethargic beginning by their standards.Nigeria lagged through only 4 factors midway through the second one-fourth. That is actually when Reeve visited Plum, that was the 12th as well as last gamer to get into the ready the Americans. Plum instantaneously altered the game with her passing and also rate on the outrageous point, dispensing three simple helps as well as nailing a 3-pointer. Plum do with just six factors however her six-minute change to end up the first one-half led to a plus-11 on the scoreboard to drive the trigger 19 at half. The united state after that began the 2nd one-half on a 15-0 run and the tension was actually created for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and also Stewart, that entered into the game averaging a matching 20.3 scores every activity, played their brand of seasoned tormenter sphere. Wilson invested 20 aspects on 9-of-11 shooting with 11 rebounds as well as two blocks. Stewart possessed thirteen points on 5-of-7 capturing with 5 rebounds and three assists.Brittney Griner came off the seat to score 11 points on 4-of-5 capturing. Those 3 interior markers incorporating for 16-of-21 is hard to beat.The U.S. entered the game averaging 29 helps and also once again applied a ball-sharing center by setting up 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the lead to as reduced as 13 in the 4th quarter, along with 19 scores. The game ended with a little upper hand when the USA's Kahleah Copper obtained a specialized nasty for throwing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she racked up in the last few seconds.