Libertyville junior guard Sophia Swanson knows her name might confuse people.
Former Barrington star Sophie Swanson was the 2022 Ms. Basketball of Illinois winner and is a sophomore guard at Purdue.
They’re not related, although they know each other.
“It’s motivating to me because she’s a great player and shooter,” Sophia Swanson said. “I’m trying to get better every day, like her.”
Swanson, a first-year starter for the Wildcats, is establishing herself in Lake County. She has been a fixture in the startling lineup since the second game, building off a solid sophomore season as a reserve.
The 5-foot-4 Swanson is shooting 38% from 3-point range and is averaging 8.5 points to help the Wildcats (13-4, 5-0) seize first place in the North Suburban Conference. Her ballhandling is another key component. She has 46 assists and 22 turnovers.
“Sophia is stepping into her own this season,” Libertyville coach Greg Pedersen said. “I love having the option to use her as a point guard or playing her off the ball as a shooter.
“She’s a tough guard. The most underrated impact she’s had is on defense. Sophia’s on-ball defense has been disruptive and helps us cause just a little bit more chaos out there.”
Swanson, whose father, Todd, played basketball at Deerfield and Bethel College and brother Jordan played at Libertyville before graduating in 2022, said she’s happy with her progress at both ends of the court.
“I know that I have to play with intensity and physicality,” she said. “Playing good defense leads to good offense. I think I’m doing pretty well defensively. On offense, I know I can beat my player, dish out to a teammate for a 3-pointer, or drive in and make a floater. I’m also able to make more threes than last year.”
Libertyville sophomore guard Lily Fisher, whose sister Emily is a sophomore guard at Maryland, is trying to make her own mark too. She has noticed Swanson’s improvement this season.
“Sophia’s shooting has increased dramatically from last year, so that has helped our team offensively a lot,” Fisher said.
Indeed, Swanson scored a career-high 16 points during the Wildcats’ 65-59 win against Yorkville in the Grow the Game Showcase at New Trier on Friday. That was the team’s eighth win in a row.
“She brings a lot of energy on offense and defense,” Libertyville senior guard/forward Elinor Lindal said. “She is an amazing player and very fun to play with. I think she’s gotten a lot more confident this year, which is great to see. She always has been really good, but the big thing that’s changed is her confidence.”
Swanson agreed that confidence is important. She said she worked on her outside shooting and ballhandling in the offseason to prepare for a larger role.
“I had to be able to handle pressure and be able to defend without needing much help from others,” she said.
Pedersen said Swanson is doing more than that.
“She’s tough to defend and keep track of,” Pedersen said. “She has the quickest release from three on our team, and she’s really crafted the efficiency of her running floater.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.