Sports

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

.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA writer due to the fact that 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Author of 2 booksPARIS-- The blend of A'ja Wilson and also Breanna Stewart has confirmed to be a devasting mixture for the Staff USA women, relevant where there is actually a scenario creating that they can share the Olympics A lot of Prized Possession Gamer Award.But there is actually a new duo surfacing, though certainly not a shocking one, that is actually proved to become a major boost as the Americans work toward one more gold medal.Las Vegas Aces colleagues Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young have actually stepped up to be difference-makers in France and participated in vital tasks in Staff United States's 88-74 victory over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It marked the team's 59th consecutive Olympic success and also sets up a semifinal competition against Australia, victors over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful do with double-digit aspects for the 2nd straight game, shooting 60% coming from the field in the United States' gain Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve moved Young into the beginning sequence in place of pro Diana Taurasi against Nigeria, a crew understood for participating in higher tension full-court defense that challenges setting against guards.It was actually a benefit after Young racked up 19 points along with four steals off the bench in the ultimate pool play game versus Germany. She responded with one more great functionality, enjoying with electricity at each points together with yet another Aces teammate, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 points and assisted lug the USA offense early in the activity as the Americans got off to a bit of a sluggish beginning by their standards.Nigeria lagged by merely 4 points midway with the 2nd fourth. That's when Reeve visited Plum, who was the 12th as well as last player to enter the game for the Americans. Plum quickly altered the activity with her passing away and velocity on the outrageous end, serving up 3 quick helps and also toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum finished with simply 6 points yet her six-minute change to complete the 1st one-half led to a plus-11 on the scoreboard to drive the result in 19 at one-half. The U.S. at that point began the 2nd fifty percent on a 15-0 operate as well as the tension was actually provided for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and also Stewart, who entered the activity averaging a matching 20.3 points every game, played their label of experienced bully round. Wilson invested twenty aspects on 9-of-11 firing with 11 rebounds and also two blocks. Stewart possessed thirteen aspects on 5-of-7 capturing along with five rebounds as well as 3 assists.Brittney Griner went over the bench to rating 11 ideas on 4-of-5 shooting. Those 3 indoor scorers mixing for 16-of-21 is difficult to beat.The USA went into the video game balancing 29 aids as well as again applied a ball-sharing facility by constructing 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which cut the lead to as reduced as thirteen in the 4th one-fourth, with 19 points. The video game finished with a little advantage when the U.S.'s Kahleah Copper obtained a technological nasty for throwing the reception at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she racked up in the last secs.