.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA article writer since 2010.Dealt With Cleveland Cavs for seven years.Writer of two booksPARIS-- The mix of A'ja Wilson as well as Breanna Stewart has confirmed to be a devasting mixture for the Staff U.S.A. females, to the point where there is actually an instance cultivating that they could discuss the Olympics A lot of Prized Possession Player Award.But there is actually a brand-new duo emerging, though not an unusual one, that's proved to be a major boost as the Americans work toward yet another gold medal.Las Las vega Aces colleagues Kelsey Plum and Jackie Youthful have actually improved to be difference-makers in France and also participated in crucial roles in Team United States's 88-74 success over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It indicated the team's 59th successive Olympic triumph as well as puts together a semifinal competition against Australia, champions over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful completed with double-digit aspects for the 2nd upright video game, firing 60% coming from the field in the USA' sway Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve moved Youthful into the beginning lineup instead of pro Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a group recognized for playing higher pressure full-court self defense that tests setting against guards.It was an incentive after Youthful scored 19 aspects with 4 steals off the seat in the ultimate swimming pool play video game against Germany. She reacted along with yet another great performance, enjoying with energy at each points together with one more Aces ally, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young racked up 15 factors as well as assisted carry the U.S. outburst early in the video game as the Americans got off to a bit of a slow-moving start through their standards.Nigeria was behind through only 4 aspects midway through the second quarter. That's when Reeve visited Plum, that was the 12th and last gamer to go into the game for the Americans. Plum immediately modified the activity with her death and also velocity on the offending end, dishing out three easy helps and also toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum finished with just 6 points but her six-minute switch to end up the very first one-half led to a plus-11 on the scoreboard to press the cause 19 at fifty percent. The U.S. after that started the 2nd half on a 15-0 operate and also the anxiety was done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson as well as Stewart, that entered the game averaging a matching 20.3 scores per game, played their label of skilled tormenter sphere. Wilson invested twenty points on 9-of-11 firing with 11 rebounds and two blocks. Stewart possessed 13 aspects on 5-of-7 firing with 5 rebounds as well as 3 assists.Brittney Griner came off the bench to rating 11 ideas on 4-of-5 shooting. Those 3 internal markers integrating for 16-of-21 is tough to beat.The united state got in the game averaging 29 helps and also once more placed on a ball-sharing clinic by assembling 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the lead to as low as thirteen in the fourth quarter, with 19 points. The game ended along with a little bit of advantage when the USA's Kahleah Copper got a specialized nasty for tossing the reception at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she racked up in the last secs.