Kate Hudson credits Jeanie Buss as real-life inspiration

• Kate Hudson plays the President of the Los Angeles Waves in Running Point.
• Jeanie Buss provided the real-life inspiration for Kate Hudson’s lead character.
• Brenda Song credited Mindy Kaling and Kate Hudson for revitalising her career.
  

Kate Hudson has opened up about her decades-long friendship with Los Angeles Lakers co-owner Jeanie Buss, revealing that the sports executive has always been "very protective" of her.

Hudson, who portrays the President of the fictional Los Angeles Waves in the Netflix sports-comedy Running Point, shared that Buss served as a real-life inspiration for her character.

Speaking to PEOPLE magazine, the actress recalled how Buss mentored her in her younger years: "She kind of put her arm around me and made sure I stayed out of trouble."

The series, co-created by Mindy Kaling, marks a significant collaboration for the two women later in life. Hudson described the experience of working together on the project as "wonderful and very, very cozy."

The show also features Brenda Song as Ali Lee, the chief of staff for the organisation. Song, a lifelong Lakers fan, admitted to Extra that the role arrived at a critical "crossroads" in her life.

After having two children, she found herself questioning her fit in the entertainment industry before being cast in the Netflix production.

For Song, the experience has been transformative, offering her the chance to work alongside women she admires. "Chatting with Mindy and working with Kate, these two women inspire me on such a personal level," she said.

Running Point follows a reformed "party girl" who finds herself leading a professional basketball team, blending sharp comedy with high-stakes sports management.

The show officially premiered on Netflix in late 2025, receiving praise for its portrayal of powerful women in a male-dominated industry.