.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA article writer given that 2010.Dealt With Cleveland Cavs for seven years.Writer of two booksPARIS-- The combo of A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart has actually confirmed to be a devasting combo for the Staff United States women, to the point where there is actually a case developing that they can share the Olympics Many Prized Possession Gamer Award.But there's a brand new duo emerging, though not an unexpected one, that's proved to become a big boost as the Americans work toward another gold medal.Las Vegas Aces colleagues Kelsey Plum and also Jackie Young have boosted to be difference-makers in France and participated in crucial jobs in Crew U.S.A.'s 88-74 success over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It indicated the crew's 59th consecutive Olympic victory as well as establishes a semifinal match against Australia, victors over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful completed with double-digit aspects for the 2nd straight video game, shooting 60% from the area in the United States' draw Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Young into the beginning sequence in place of pro Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a team known for participating in high stress full-court protection that tests setting against guards.It was an incentive after Young scored 19 points along with four takes off the bench in the last swimming pool play video game versus Germany. She responded with another excellent efficiency, having fun with electricity at both ends along with an additional Aces colleague, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young racked up 15 aspects as well as aided bring the USA offense early in the video game as the Americans got off to a little bit of a sluggish beginning through their standards.Nigeria was behind by merely four points midway with the 2nd one-fourth. That's when Reeve visited Plum, that was the 12th as well as ultimate gamer to get in the game for the Americans. Plum instantaneously transformed the video game along with her passing and also velocity on the outrageous point, dispensing three simple assists as well as toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum finished with just 6 aspects yet her six-minute switch to end up the very first one-half resulted in a plus-11 on the scoreboard to push the trigger 19 at fifty percent. The united state after that began the second fifty percent on a 15-0 operate and also the tension was created for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and also Stewart, who entered into the activity balancing a matching 20.3 scores per activity, played their brand of professional tormenter round. Wilson put in twenty aspects on 9-of-11 shooting with 11 rebounds as well as pair of blocks. Stewart had 13 factors on 5-of-7 capturing along with 5 rebounds and also three assists.Brittney Griner came off the seat to credit rating 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting. Those 3 interior markers combining for 16-of-21 is actually tough to beat.The USA went into the video game averaging 29 aids as well as once more put on a ball-sharing medical clinic through constructing 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which cut the lead up to as low as thirteen in the fourth quarter, with 19 scores. The activity ended along with a little bit of advantage when the USA's Kahleah Copper obtained a specialized foul for tossing the reception at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the final seconds.