.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA writer since 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years.Author of 2 booksPARIS-- The mix of A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart has shown to be a devasting blend for the Group USA ladies, to the point where there is a case building that they could discuss the Olympics Most Prized Possession Gamer Award.But there is actually a brand-new duo developing, though not an astonishing one, that is actually shown to become a big boost as the Americans pursue one more gold medal.Las Vegas Aces allies Kelsey Plum and also Jackie Youthful have boosted to be difference-makers in France as well as played essential functions in Staff U.S.A.'s 88-74 success over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It marked the staff's 59th consecutive Olympic victory as well as establishes a semifinal competition against Australia, winners over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful do with double-digit aspects for the second straight activity, shooting 60% from the industry in the United States' gain Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve moved Young into the beginning lineup instead of pro Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a team known for playing higher stress full-court protection that tests opposing guards.It was an incentive after Young racked up 19 points along with four swipes off the bench in the last pool play video game versus Germany. She reacted along with yet another excellent functionality, enjoying with electricity at both ends together with one more Aces colleague, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young racked up 15 aspects and also helped carry the U.S. offense early in the video game as the Americans got off to a bit of a slow begin by their standards.Nigeria lagged by merely 4 points midway by means of the 2nd one-fourth. That's when Reeve mosted likely to Plum, who was actually the 12th as well as final player to get in the ready the Americans. Plum quickly changed the video game along with her death as well as speed on the annoying point, serving up three simple helps and nailing a 3-pointer. Plum finished with simply 6 aspects yet her six-minute shift to end up the very first fifty percent led to a plus-11 on the scoreboard to push the result in 19 at half. The U.S. after that began the 2nd fifty percent on a 15-0 operate as well as the worry was actually provided for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and Stewart, that came into the game averaging a matching 20.3 scores every video game, played their label of skillful tormenter sphere. Wilson invested twenty points on 9-of-11 capturing with 11 rebounds and 2 blocks. Stewart possessed thirteen points on 5-of-7 firing along with five rebounds and also three assists.Brittney Griner came off the bench to score 11 ideas on 4-of-5 firing. Those three internal scorers blending for 16-of-21 is actually tough to beat.The united state went into the game balancing 29 assists and also once again placed on a ball-sharing center through assembling 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the lead up to as low as 13 in the fourth one-fourth, along with 19 points. The video game finished with a little edge when the united state's Kahleah Copper obtained a technological filthy for tossing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the last secs.