Sports

U. S. women's hoops pulverizes Nigeria, reaches Olympic semis

.Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior WriterAug 7, 2024, 05:28 PM ETCloseESPN.com NBA writer due to the fact that 2010.Dealt With Cleveland Cavs for 7 years.Writer of pair of booksPARIS-- The combination of A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart has actually proven to become a devasting combo for the Team USA ladies, relevant where there is an instance creating that they might share the Olympics A lot of Valuable Gamer Award.But there is actually a brand-new duo surfacing, though certainly not a surprising one, that is actually confirmed to become a large increase as the Americans work toward an additional gold medal.Las Las vega Aces allies Kelsey Plum as well as Jackie Young have boosted to be difference-makers in France and participated in vital parts in Group USA's 88-74 triumph over Nigeria in the quarterfinals.It signified the crew's 59th consecutive Olympic triumph as well as establishes a semifinal matchup against Australia, winners over Serbia Wednesday, on Friday at 3 p.m. ET.Jackie Youthful completed with double-digit points for the 2nd upright activity, firing 60% coming from the field in the USA' gain Nigeria. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockCoach Cheryl Reeve moved Youthful in to the starting sequence in place of pro Diana Taurasi versus Nigeria, a staff understood for participating in high pressure full-court self defense that tests setting against guards.It was a benefit after Youthful racked up 19 points with 4 takes off the seat in the final pool play video game against Germany. She reacted with another exceptional efficiency, having fun with electricity at each points along with yet another Aces teammate, Chelsea Gray, in the backcourt.Young scored 15 points as well as aided lug the united state outburst early in the activity as the Americans left to a bit of a lethargic start through their standards.Nigeria lagged by only 4 points midway with the 2nd quarter. That is actually when Reeve headed to Plum, who was the 12th and last gamer to get in the ready the Americans. Plum instantly changed the video game with her passing away and also velocity on the annoying point, dispensing three fast supports and toenailing a 3-pointer. Plum completed with merely six aspects however her six-minute change to complete the very first one-half caused a plus-11 on the scoreboard to push the trigger 19 at one-half. The U.S. then began the 2nd half on a 15-0 operate as well as the anxiety was done for the evening.Editor's Picks1 RelatedWilson and also Stewart, who entered into the activity averaging a matching 20.3 scores per game, played their brand name of competent bully ball. Wilson put in twenty aspects on 9-of-11 capturing along with 11 rebounds as well as 2 blocks. Stewart had thirteen factors on 5-of-7 firing along with 5 rebounds as well as three assists.Brittney Griner came off the bench to credit rating 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting. Those three interior scorers integrating for 16-of-21 is actually difficult to beat.The U.S. got in the video game averaging 29 aids as well as once again applied a ball-sharing facility by putting together 31 more.Promise Amukamara led Nigeria, which cut the top up to as reduced as 13 in the 4th quarter, with 19 scores. The activity ended with a little upper hand when the united state's Kahleah Copper acquired a specialized nasty for tossing the ball at Nigeria's Ezinne Kalu after she scored in the ultimate seconds.