Brighton athletics won’t soon forget Sophie Nielsen, a two-sport athlete making lasting marks in both basketball and lacrosse. The one-time freshman phenom is now the prolific senior who on Dec. 29, 2025 in a basketball game at home versus American Fork set the all-time scoring record for the 56 years of Brighton’s existence. The 1,322 career points scored by Vanessa Hudson Duerson (BHS ‘05) stood as the high-water mark for 20 years. Duerson was named Ms. Basketball for the state of Utah in 2005 and led the Bengals to back-to-back state championships. 

Sophie Nielsen at home on the basketball court. (Photo by Liquid Studios Lyman Winn)

When notified that her career scoring record had just been eclipsed, Duerson responded from her home in South Carolina. “I am both grateful and flattered, and I am very happy for Sophie Nielsen. Kudos to her for a wonderful achievement,” she said. Her 2005 Brighton coach, Jim Gresh, long since retired recalled that “Vanessa was a John Stockton-like point guard that could really score. Her basketball IQ was off the chart. She was exciting to coach and watch.” Duerson went on to play collegiate basketball at BYU. 

Nielsen, a 5-foot-9 guard/forward, is committed to play at the next level at Colorado Mesa University in 2026. She and her father realized last year when she scored her 1,000th career point as a junior that a new record might be within reach. 

“My dad and I saw I was only about 300 points from breaking the school’s record. We joked about how cool it would be but it was nothing serious. I didn’t truly believe it was an opportunity until a couple games into this season. I was playing well and putting in more work than I ever had before, and it seemed like my dream could finally come true. To me, breaking the record meant everything I had done was worth something. All of the extra hours in the gym after practice, missing out on opportunities with friends, it was all helping me become the best basketball player I could be,” Nielsen said. 

Sophie Nielsen set the record for career basketball scoring. (Photo courtesy Kane Stokes)

“Sophie’s biggest strength is her work ethic. She constantly sets the example with the efforts she puts forth on and off the basketball course,” her current coach Kane Stokes is quick to point out. Her father, Doug Nielsen, quips, “A funny storyline is that since early this season when we saw the record possibility she wouldn't eat junk food or soda until she broke the record. On the day of breaking the record she brought root beer and crap to celebrate and eat after the game.” 

Nielsen is currently listed on the national MaxPreps website as the 20th most prolific scorer in 2026 girls basketball for the nation. Unintentionally, Nielsen eclipsed another record—the boys career scoring basketball record of 1,259 points set by Brandon Miller in 2013. With nine games left to play, she is likely to set high marks.

Sophie Nielsen has 111 goals in her Brighton lacrosse career. (Photo courtesy Melissa Nash)

Speaking of high marks, besides being an elite athlete, Nielsen is a 4.0 GPA student with a near perfect ACT score. “Sophie is one of those student-athletes that doesn’t come along often. She sets a high bar because she not only excels in sports, but in everything else she does. Not everything has been easy for Sophie, and I can honestly say that I have not seen someone who can overlook the challenges and focus on what matters more than Sophie. We’re so proud of her basketball accomplishments but more than that, we’re proud of the way she represents Brighton High School in all aspects of her life,” Brighton Principal Marielle Rawle said.

Nielsen is no less fierce on the lacrosse field than she is on the basketball court or in the classroom. Last year, as a junior, she was named All-American and All-American Academic and chosen to play on the Utah National Team (making her one of the best 20 girls lacrosse players in the state). 

Sophie Nielsen lacrosse persona. (Photo by Liquid Studios Lyman Winn)

Her excellence-demanding lacrosse coach Melissa Nash noted, “Sophie is a legend on Brighton’s basketball court and lacrosse field. She has added so much to our team—goals, assists, draw controls, ground balls and huge defensive stops. Not only an amazing player but she leads the team with her leadership, work ethic and kindness too.” 

And as the basketball season draws to a close, she trades her No. 4 basketball jersey for No. 4 lacrosse jersey and a final high school sports season. “Sophie may be the most impressive two-sport athlete Brighton has ever produced,” said Brighton’s Athletic Director Garrett Wilson. Not coincidentally, she is one goal away from becoming the all-time scoring leader in Brighton girls lacrosse—she has 111 goals to her credit just behind Caroline Lee’s career mark of 112 goals. She has the potential to eclipse the boys lacrosse scoring record as well. 

It could be another soda-free sports season.