Sports

U. S. women's hoops crushes Nigeria, arrives at Olympic semis

.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Elder WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA author given that 2010.Dealt With Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Writer of 2 booksPARIS-- The mixture of A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart has actually verified to become a devasting combo for the Group USA females, to the point where there is a scenario creating that they can discuss the Olympics Many Prized Possession Gamer Award.But there is actually a brand new duo surfacing, though not an unusual one, that is actually shown to become a large boost as the Americans pursue an additional gold medal.Las Vegas Aces colleagues Kelsey Plum as well as Jackie Young have actually stepped up to become difference-makers in France as well as participated in key tasks in Team USA's 88-74 victory over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It signified the team's 59th successive Olympic victory as well as puts together a semifinal match versus Australia, victors over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful do with double-digit points for the 2nd upright game, firing 60% coming from the industry in the United States' draw Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Young into the starting sequence instead of professional Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a staff known for participating in high pressure full-court defense that tests setting against guards.It was actually a reward after Youthful racked up 19 aspects along with four steals off the bench in the final pool play activity against Germany. She responded with yet another superb performance, playing with power at each ends alongside an additional Aces teammate, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 aspects as well as helped hold the USA offense early in the activity as the Americans got off to a little bit of a slow beginning through their standards.Nigeria lagged through simply four factors midway through the second quarter. That is actually when Reeve mosted likely to Plum, that was actually the 12th as well as ultimate gamer to enter the ready the Americans. Plum immediately altered the activity with her death and also velocity on the offensive end, dishing out 3 simple supports as well as toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum do with merely six points however her six-minute shift to complete the 1st half led to a plus-11 on the scoreboard to push the lead to 19 at fifty percent. The U.S. then began the second half on a 15-0 run and also the stress and anxiety was actually done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and also Stewart, who entered the game balancing a matching 20.3 scores per game, played their label of proficient oppressor sphere. Wilson placed in 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting with 11 rebounds and 2 blocks. Stewart had thirteen points on 5-of-7 capturing with 5 rebounds and three assists.Brittney Griner came off the bench to rating 11 points on 4-of-5 capturing. Those three internal scorers blending for 16-of-21 is actually challenging to beat.The united state got into the video game averaging 29 assists and again placed on a ball-sharing clinic by setting up 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the top to as reduced as 13 in the 4th quarter, along with 19 scores. The game finished with a little bit of upper hand when the USA's Kahleah Copper got a specialized filthy for throwing the reception at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the ultimate seconds.