Sports

U. S. ladies's hoops squashes Nigeria, hits Olympic semis

.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior Citizen WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA writer given that 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years.Writer of two booksPARIS-- The combo of A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart has proven to become a devasting mixture for the Team United States women, relevant where there is actually a situation cultivating that they could discuss the Olympics A lot of Belongings Player Award.But there's a brand-new duo emerging, though certainly not an unexpected one, that's verified to be a significant boost as the Americans pursue an additional gold medal.Las Las vega Aces allies Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young have actually improved to become difference-makers in France and also participated in key parts in Crew United States's 88-74 triumph over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It denoted the crew's 59th successive Olympic triumph as well as sets up a semifinal competition versus Australia, victors over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Young completed with double-digit factors for the second straight game, shooting 60% coming from the area in the USA' sway Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Young in to the starting sequence instead of expert Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a staff recognized for participating in higher tension full-court defense that challenges setting against guards.It was a benefit after Youthful scored 19 factors along with 4 swipes off the seat in the final pool play video game against Germany. She responded along with yet another excellent performance, enjoying with electricity at each ends along with one more Aces teammate, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young racked up 15 aspects as well as helped lug the united state outburst early in the video game as the Americans got off to a little bit of a sluggish begin through their standards.Nigeria was behind by just 4 points midway with the second one-fourth. That's when Reeve went to Plum, that was actually the 12th as well as final player to enter the ready the Americans. Plum instantaneously altered the activity along with her passing away and also speed on the offending point, dispensing 3 easy supports as well as nailing a 3-pointer. Plum completed with only 6 points however her six-minute change to end up the first half resulted in a plus-11 on the scoreboard to drive the cause 19 at fifty percent. The united state at that point started the second fifty percent on a 15-0 operate and also the anxiety was created for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson as well as Stewart, who entered into the game balancing a matching 20.3 scores per activity, played their brand name of skilled tormenter ball. Wilson placed in 20 aspects on 9-of-11 shooting along with 11 rebounds as well as pair of blocks. Stewart had 13 factors on 5-of-7 firing with 5 rebounds and also three assists.Brittney Griner came off the seat to credit rating 11 points on 4-of-5 capturing. Those three internal markers incorporating for 16-of-21 is challenging to beat.The USA entered the activity balancing 29 assists and also once more applied a ball-sharing clinic by assembling 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the top up to as low as thirteen in the fourth one-fourth, with 19 points. The video game finished with a little bit of upper hand when the U.S.'s Kahleah Copper acquired a technological repulsive for throwing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she racked up in the ultimate secs.