Brenda Song is having a major moment. After years in the industry, the former Disney Channel star is back in a big way with Netflix’s sports-comedy hit Running Point, and she’s not holding back about what the role means to her career and her life.
Best known for The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Song now plays Ali Lee, the sharp-witted friend and right-hand woman to Kate Hudson’s character, Isla Gordon, who just became president of a Los Angeles pro basketball team. Since its premiere, the show—loosely inspired by Lakers owner Jeanie Buss’s real story—has become a Netflix darling, racking up over 9 million views in its first week and earning a quick Season 2 greenlight.
From Child Star to Dramatic Lead
Song’s path here hasn’t been straightforward. She started modeling at age four and became a household name through her teen roles, but she’s been candid about the struggle to break free from her early image while managing motherhood and a high-pressure career.
That’s what makes Running Point feel so significant to her. In interviews, Song describes it as her dream project—a chance to combine her genuine, lifelong passion for basketball with meaty characters who feel real and funny at the same time. “I’ve been watching basketball my entire life,” she told PEOPLE, recalling how she’d sneak peeks at Lakers scores even on the Suite Life set.
A Show That Captures Real Sports Drama
Running Point works because it goes deeper than the locker room. Hudson’s character Isla is suddenly running the franchise after her brother’s downfall, and Song’s Ali becomes her strategic partner and conscience, often locking horns with everyone from management to the players themselves.
The show tackles genuine issues—women in sports leadership, family legacy, and the madness of running a multibillion-dollar operation—while keeping audiences laughing. Critics have noted that Song’s performance gives the series its emotional backbone, grounding the wilder moments with authenticity.
A Real Basketball Fan Gets Her Dream Role
What makes Song’s casting even more perfect? She’s an actual Lakers fanatic. She grew up loving Michael Jordan and the Bulls, but Kobe Bryant’s 1996 arrival made her a die-hard LA devotee. She even kept a life-size Kobe cutout in her Suite Life dressing room.
That real passion shows in every scene. Both Song and Hudson have said their genuine love for basketball was a huge draw to the project.
What’s Next for Ali and Isla
Season 2 is set to deepen the tension between the two friends as their relationship gets tested by the professional stakes. “For the first time, Ali and Isla have to navigate what it means to work alongside your best friend—especially when that best friend is your boss,” Song said at the Season 2 red carpet event.
The new season also brings high-profile guest stars like Octavia Spencer and Nicole Richie, which has only fueled the show’s viral growth. For Song, Running Point represents something bigger than just another role. It’s a full-circle moment—the chance to marry her lifelong basketball obsession with her most mature work yet, and proof that sometimes the best roles come when you least expect them.
