.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Elder WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA writer given that 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Writer of pair of booksPARIS-- The mix of A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart has shown to become a devasting blend for the Staff U.S.A. females, to the point where there is actually a situation developing that they could possibly share the Olympics A lot of Belongings Player Award.But there's a brand-new duo developing, though not an astonishing one, that's proved to be a significant boost as the Americans work toward an additional gold medal.Las Las vega Aces teammates Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young have actually boosted to be difference-makers in France and also played crucial jobs in Crew USA's 88-74 success over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It signified the staff's 59th successive Olympic triumph and sets up a semifinal competition versus Australia, winners over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful completed with double-digit factors for the 2nd upright activity, firing 60% coming from the field in the USA' draw Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Young in to the beginning sequence in place of professional Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a crew understood for playing higher tension full-court defense that challenges opposing guards.It was actually an incentive after Young racked up 19 factors along with 4 steals off the bench in the final swimming pool play game against Germany. She responded along with one more superb performance, playing with energy at each ends along with one more Aces colleague, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young racked up 15 factors as well as helped lug the united state offense early in the game as the Americans left to a little bit of a lethargic beginning by their standards.Nigeria lagged through simply four points midway with the second one-fourth. That is actually when Reeve mosted likely to Plum, that was actually the 12th and also final gamer to enter into the game for the Americans. Plum quickly altered the video game along with her death and also speed on the repulsive end, dispensing three simple aids as well as nailing a 3-pointer. Plum finished with simply six points however her six-minute shift to complete the very first fifty percent resulted in a plus-11 on the scoreboard to press the trigger 19 at fifty percent. The USA after that began the second half on a 15-0 run and also the tension was created for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and Stewart, that came into the game balancing a matching 20.3 scores every activity, played their brand of seasoned oppressor sphere. Wilson put in twenty factors on 9-of-11 firing along with 11 rebounds and also pair of blocks. Stewart possessed 13 factors on 5-of-7 capturing with 5 rebounds and three assists.Brittney Griner went over the bench to score 11 points on 4-of-5 firing. Those 3 indoor scorers combining for 16-of-21 is tough to beat.The united state went into the video game averaging 29 helps and also once again put on a ball-sharing clinic through setting up 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the lead up to as low as 13 in the fourth one-fourth, along with 19 scores. The game ended with a little bit of edge when the united state's Kahleah Copper got a specialized repulsive for tossing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the last few seconds.