.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA writer given that 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years.Author of pair of booksPARIS-- The combination of A'ja Wilson as well as Breanna Stewart has actually verified to be a devasting combination for the Group U.S.A. ladies, to the point where there is a situation creating that they might share the Olympics Many Valuable Player Award.But there is actually a brand new duo arising, though not a surprising one, that is actually proved to be a big increase as the Americans work toward another gold medal.Las Las vega Aces teammates Kelsey Plum and also Jackie Young have actually stepped up to become difference-makers in France and played vital duties in Group United States's 88-74 victory over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It marked the group's 59th consecutive Olympic victory as well as establishes a semifinal matchup versus Australia, winners over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Young finished with double-digit factors for the second straight game, firing 60% coming from the area in the United States' get Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve moved Youthful right into the starting sequence instead of veteran Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a staff understood for playing higher stress full-court self defense that tests opposing guards.It was an incentive after Youthful scored 19 aspects along with 4 steals off the seat in the ultimate swimming pool play video game versus Germany. She responded along with yet another excellent efficiency, enjoying with electricity at each ends together with an additional Aces teammate, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 aspects as well as assisted bring the USA offense early in the game as the Americans left to a little bit of a slow-moving begin by their standards.Nigeria lagged by only 4 points midway via the 2nd fourth. That is actually when Reeve went to Plum, who was the 12th and last gamer to get in the game for the Americans. Plum right away modified the activity along with her passing as well as velocity on the outrageous point, dispensing three simple assists as well as toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum finished with merely six factors yet her six-minute change to complete the initial fifty percent led to a plus-11 on the scoreboard to press the cause 19 at one-half. The U.S. at that point started the second fifty percent on a 15-0 operate and the anxiety was done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson as well as Stewart, who entered into the game balancing a matching 20.3 scores per game, played their brand of competent bully round. Wilson placed in twenty aspects on 9-of-11 capturing with 11 rebounds and two blocks. Stewart had 13 factors on 5-of-7 firing along with five rebounds and also three assists.Brittney Griner went over the bench to credit rating 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting. Those 3 interior markers mixing for 16-of-21 is actually difficult to beat.The united state went into the activity balancing 29 supports and also once again put on a ball-sharing clinic through constructing 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the lead up to as low as thirteen in the 4th one-fourth, with 19 scores. The activity finished along with a little edge when the USA's Kahleah Copper received a technological filthy for tossing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she racked up in the last few seconds.