.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Elder WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA writer since 2010.Dealt With Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Writer of 2 booksPARIS-- The blend of A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart has proven to be a devasting blend for the Team U.S.A. girls, relevant where there is a scenario developing that they could discuss the Olympics The majority of Valuable Gamer Award.But there is actually a brand-new duo emerging, though certainly not an astonishing one, that is actually verified to be a large improvement as the Americans work toward another gold medal.Las Vegas Aces colleagues Kelsey Plum and also Jackie Youthful have stepped up to become difference-makers in France and participated in vital jobs in Staff U.S.A.'s 88-74 victory over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It signified the team's 59th consecutive Olympic victory as well as sets up a semifinal match versus Australia, winners over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Young finished with double-digit aspects for the 2nd straight game, shooting 60% coming from the industry in the USA' gain Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve moved Youthful right into the starting lineup in place of veteran Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a staff understood for playing high tension full-court defense that tests opposing guards.It was actually a perks after Young scored 19 factors along with four takes off the bench in the final pool play game versus Germany. She reacted along with one more superb efficiency, enjoying with electricity at both points together with another Aces colleague, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 aspects and assisted lug the USA offense early in the game as the Americans left to a bit of a slow-moving begin by their standards.Nigeria lagged by simply 4 aspects midway through the 2nd one-fourth. That is actually when Reeve headed to Plum, that was actually the 12th and ultimate player to get in the ready the Americans. Plum quickly changed the video game with her death as well as rate on the repulsive end, dishing out 3 easy supports and also toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum do with just 6 points but her six-minute shift to end up the first half led to a plus-11 on the scoreboard to press the cause 19 at fifty percent. The united state then began the 2nd fifty percent on a 15-0 operate as well as the stress was actually created for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and also Stewart, who entered the video game averaging a matching 20.3 scores every activity, played their brand name of professional tormenter round. Wilson invested 20 aspects on 9-of-11 firing with 11 rebounds as well as pair of blocks. Stewart had 13 aspects on 5-of-7 firing along with five rebounds and three assists.Brittney Griner went over the seat to score 11 points on 4-of-5 capturing. Those 3 interior scorers incorporating for 16-of-21 is difficult to beat.The united state got into the activity averaging 29 supports and once again placed on a ball-sharing clinic by constructing 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which cut the lead up to as reduced as 13 in the fourth one-fourth, with 19 scores. The activity finished with a little bit of upper hand when the U.S.'s Kahleah Copper acquired a specialized filthy for throwing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she racked up in the last secs.