.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA article writer since 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years.Author of pair of booksPARIS-- The mixture of A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart has actually confirmed to become a devasting combination for the Team United States girls, relevant where there is a scenario establishing that they can discuss the Olympics Most Belongings Player Award.But there's a brand-new duo emerging, though certainly not a surprising one, that's confirmed to become a major increase as the Americans pursue yet another gold medal.Las Las vega Aces teammates Kelsey Plum as well as Jackie Youthful have actually stepped up to be difference-makers in France as well as played key functions in Group USA's 88-74 triumph over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It denoted the crew's 59th successive Olympic success as well as establishes a semifinal match versus Australia, victors over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful do with double-digit points for the 2nd straight video game, firing 60% coming from the field in the USA' draw Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Youthful into the beginning sequence in place of pro Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a group recognized for participating in high pressure full-court defense that challenges setting against guards.It was actually a reward after Young scored 19 points with four takes off the seat in the final pool play video game versus Germany. She reacted along with yet another exceptional performance, having fun with power at each points together with yet another Aces teammate, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 points and also aided lug the USA offense early in the activity as the Americans left to a bit of a slow-moving beginning by their standards.Nigeria was behind by simply four factors midway with the 2nd one-fourth. That is actually when Reeve visited Plum, that was actually the 12th and also ultimate player to go into the ready the Americans. Plum right away altered the activity along with her passing away and also speed on the offending end, dispensing 3 easy aids and nailing a 3-pointer. Plum do with just 6 points yet her six-minute shift to finish the 1st one-half resulted in a plus-11 on the scoreboard to push the result in 19 at half. The USA after that began the 2nd half on a 15-0 operate and the worry was actually done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and Stewart, that came into the activity averaging a matching 20.3 scores every game, played their company of skilled bully round. Wilson placed in twenty aspects on 9-of-11 shooting with 11 rebounds as well as two blocks. Stewart possessed 13 points on 5-of-7 capturing along with five rebounds and three assists.Brittney Griner came off the bench to rating 11 ideas on 4-of-5 firing. Those three indoor scorers mixing for 16-of-21 is actually hard to beat.The USA got into the activity balancing 29 supports and also once again applied a ball-sharing medical clinic through constructing 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the lead to as low as thirteen in the 4th one-fourth, with 19 points. The video game finished with a little advantage when the U.S.'s Kahleah Copper obtained a technical filthy for tossing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the final seconds.