.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA article writer since 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years.Writer of pair of booksPARIS-- The combo of A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart has proven to become a devasting blend for the Staff United States girls, relevant where there is actually a case establishing that they could share the Olympics Most Belongings Player Award.But there's a brand-new duo developing, though not a shocking one, that's shown to become a huge improvement as the Americans work toward another gold medal.Las Las vega Aces colleagues Kelsey Plum as well as Jackie Youthful have stepped up to be difference-makers in France as well as played essential roles in Crew United States's 88-74 victory over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It indicated the crew's 59th consecutive Olympic success as well as sets up a semifinal matchup versus Australia, winners over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Young do with double-digit points for the second straight video game, shooting 60% from the area in the United States' gain Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Young into the starting lineup in place of pro Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a staff known for playing higher pressure full-court defense that tests opposing guards.It was an incentive after Young racked up 19 factors along with four takes off the seat in the final swimming pool play game versus Germany. She responded along with another excellent functionality, playing with electricity at each points together with one more Aces teammate, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young racked up 15 aspects as well as assisted bring the united state outburst early in the video game as the Americans left to a little a slow start by their standards.Nigeria lagged through only 4 aspects midway through the second quarter. That is actually when Reeve mosted likely to Plum, who was actually the 12th as well as final gamer to enter into the game for the Americans. Plum instantly modified the video game with her death and also speed on the annoying end, dispensing 3 easy aids and nailing a 3-pointer. Plum completed with simply six points yet her six-minute switch to complete the first one-half led to a plus-11 on the scoreboard to drive the lead to 19 at half. The united state at that point started the 2nd fifty percent on a 15-0 run and the tension was created for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and also Stewart, that entered the activity averaging a matching 20.3 scores per video game, played their brand of professional bully round. Wilson invested twenty points on 9-of-11 capturing with 11 rebounds and two blocks. Stewart had 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting along with 5 rebounds and 3 assists.Brittney Griner came off the seat to score 11 ideas on 4-of-5 firing. Those 3 interior markers integrating for 16-of-21 is challenging to beat.The USA got in the game balancing 29 helps and also once again placed on a ball-sharing medical clinic by setting up 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the lead up to as reduced as thirteen in the fourth quarter, with 19 points. The activity ended with a little bit of edge when the USA's Kahleah Copper got a technical nasty for throwing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she racked up in the last secs.