.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Elderly Person WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA author due to the fact that 2010.Dealt With Cleveland Cavs for seven years.Writer of two booksPARIS-- The combo of A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart has actually proven to become a devasting mixture for the Team United States ladies, to the point where there is actually a scenario cultivating that they can share the Olympics Most Valuable Player Award.But there is actually a new duo developing, though certainly not a surprising one, that is actually proved to become a huge improvement as the Americans pursue 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 participated in vital functions in Group United States's 88-74 victory over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It signified the group's 59th consecutive Olympic victory and sets up a semifinal match against Australia, winners over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Young finished with double-digit points for the 2nd upright activity, firing 60% from the field in the USA' gain Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve moved Young right into the starting sequence instead of expert Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a crew understood for participating in high tension full-court protection that challenges opposing guards.It was a reward after Young scored 19 aspects with 4 takes off the bench in the final pool play game versus Germany. She answered with yet another outstanding functionality, enjoying with energy at both points alongside one more Aces colleague, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 points as well as assisted bring the U.S. offense early in the game as the Americans got off to a bit of a lethargic beginning by their standards.Nigeria was behind through merely 4 aspects midway with the second quarter. That is actually when Reeve visited Plum, that was the 12th and also last player to get into the ready the Americans. Plum immediately transformed the video game along with her passing as well as velocity on the annoying end, giving out 3 simple helps as well as nailing a 3-pointer. Plum completed with just six factors but her six-minute shift to complete the initial half caused a plus-11 on the scoreboard to push the lead to 19 at fifty percent. The USA after that started the second one-half on a 15-0 operate and also the stress was done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and Stewart, that entered the game averaging a matching 20.3 points every activity, played their brand of skillful bully ball. Wilson placed in 20 factors on 9-of-11 capturing with 11 rebounds and 2 blocks. Stewart had 13 factors on 5-of-7 shooting along with five rebounds as well as three assists.Brittney Griner came off the seat to score 11 points on 4-of-5 firing. Those 3 internal markers integrating for 16-of-21 is challenging to beat.The U.S. got into the activity balancing 29 supports and also once more placed on a ball-sharing medical clinic through setting up 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which cut the lead down to as low as thirteen in the fourth quarter, with 19 points. The game ended along with a little upper hand when the united state's Kahleah Copper obtained a technical nasty for throwing the reception at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she racked up in the ultimate seconds.