Sports

U. S. females's hoops pulverizes Nigeria, reaches Olympic partially

.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Elder WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA author due to the fact that 2010.Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years.Writer of 2 booksPARIS-- The blend of A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart has shown to become a devasting combination for the Team USA females, relevant where there is actually a case cultivating that they could discuss the Olympics Most Prized Possession Gamer Award.But there is actually a brand-new duo surfacing, though not an unusual one, that is actually confirmed to be a major boost as the Americans work toward another gold medal.Las Las vega Aces teammates Kelsey Plum as well as Jackie Youthful have boosted to be difference-makers in France and also played crucial roles in Team U.S.A.'s 88-74 success over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It indicated the staff's 59th consecutive Olympic success as well as sets up a semifinal competition versus Australia, victors over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Young do with double-digit points for the second upright game, shooting 60% coming from the industry in the USA' sway Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve relocated Youthful right into the beginning sequence in place of professional Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a crew known for playing high stress full-court protection that challenges opposing guards.It was actually a reward after Young racked up 19 points along with 4 swipes off the bench in the ultimate swimming pool play game against Germany. She answered with yet another great performance, enjoying with power at each ends together with yet another Aces colleague, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young racked up 15 factors as well as aided hold the united state outburst early in the video game as the Americans left to a bit of a slow start through their standards.Nigeria was behind by simply four factors midway by means of the second one-fourth. That's when Reeve headed to Plum, who was actually the 12th and final player to get in the game for the Americans. Plum quickly altered the game along with her passing and speed on the objectionable end, serving up 3 fast assists as well as toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum do with only 6 points yet her six-minute shift to complete the very first half resulted in a plus-11 on the scoreboard to push the result in 19 at one-half. The USA after that started the second one-half on a 15-0 operate and the worry was actually created for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson as well as Stewart, that came into the game averaging a matching 20.3 scores per game, played their company of skillful tormenter round. Wilson put in 20 aspects on 9-of-11 capturing with 11 rebounds and also 2 blocks. Stewart possessed 13 aspects on 5-of-7 firing along with 5 rebounds as well as 3 assists.Brittney Griner came off the bench to rating 11 ideas on 4-of-5 capturing. Those 3 internal markers combining for 16-of-21 is challenging to beat.The U.S. entered into the activity balancing 29 assists and also again placed on a ball-sharing clinic through constructing 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which reduced the top down to as low as thirteen in the fourth quarter, along with 19 scores. The video game ended along with a little bit of advantage when the U.S.'s Kahleah Copper received a technological foul for tossing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the final secs.