.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA article writer since 2010.Dealt With Cleveland Cavs for seven years.Author of 2 booksPARIS-- The blend of A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart has proven to be a devasting combo for the Crew USA females, relevant where there is an instance creating that they could discuss the Olympics A lot of Valuable Player Award.But there's a new duo developing, though certainly not an unusual one, that's proved to become a major boost as the Americans pursue another gold medal.Las Las vega Aces teammates Kelsey Plum and Jackie Youthful have stepped up to become difference-makers in France as well as participated in key jobs in Staff U.S.A.'s 88-74 triumph over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It signified the staff's 59th successive Olympic victory and puts together a semifinal competition versus Australia, victors over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful do with double-digit factors for the 2nd upright activity, firing 60% from the field in the United States' win over Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Youthful into the beginning sequence in place of expert Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a team recognized for playing high pressure full-court defense that tests opposing guards.It was actually a benefit after Youthful racked up 19 points along with four steals off the seat in the final pool play video game against Germany. She reacted along with another excellent performance, enjoying with electricity at both points alongside yet another Aces ally, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 factors and also assisted hold the U.S. outburst early in the video game as the Americans got off to a little a slow-moving start by their standards.Nigeria lagged by simply 4 factors midway with the second one-fourth. That is actually when Reeve mosted likely to Plum, that was actually the 12th and also ultimate player to enter into the ready the Americans. Plum right away changed the video game along with her death and also speed on the outrageous point, serving up three simple aids as well as toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum completed with merely 6 factors but her six-minute change to finish the initial half caused a plus-11 on the scoreboard to press the bring about 19 at fifty percent. The united state then began the 2nd fifty percent on a 15-0 run as well as the anxiety was done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and Stewart, that came into the game averaging a matching 20.3 points per activity, played their label of skilled oppressor round. Wilson placed in twenty factors on 9-of-11 shooting with 11 rebounds as well as two blocks. Stewart had thirteen aspects on 5-of-7 firing with 5 rebounds as well as 3 assists.Brittney Griner came off the seat to score 11 ideas on 4-of-5 firing. Those three interior markers incorporating for 16-of-21 is actually hard to beat.The united state entered the activity balancing 29 helps and once again placed on a ball-sharing clinic through constructing 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which cut the top up to as reduced as thirteen in the fourth quarter, along with 19 scores. The game finished with a little bit of advantage when the U.S.'s Kahleah Copper obtained a specialized nasty for throwing the reception at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she racked up in the ultimate few seconds.