Brenda Song on Running Point, Her Basketball Obsession, and Why This Role Was Always Meant to Be Hers
Brenda Song opens up about her lifelong love of basketball, working with Mindy Kaling, and why Running Point is her ultimate dream project.
Brenda Song Is More Than Just a Familiar Face — She Knows the Game
If you think Brenda Song is simply a talented actress riding the wave of a hit Netflix series, think again. The 36-year-old star of Running Point brings something extra to the court — a genuine, deep-rooted passion for basketball that predates the show by decades.
With nearly 35 years of professional acting under her belt, Song is a rare breed in Hollywood. Starting her career at just six years old, she has steadily built a résumé that most veterans twice her age would envy. Now, fresh off the release of Running Point Season 2, she sat down with The Hollywood Reporter looking energized and clearly in her element.
What Is Running Point All About?
The Netflix comedy series centers on Isla, played by Kate Hudson — a woman who unexpectedly takes the reins of her family's professional basketball franchise, the fictional Los Angeles Waves. Song plays Ali, Isla's sharp, loyal, and indispensable right-hand woman.
Executive produced by the powerhouse trio of Mindy Kaling, Ike Barinholtz, and David Stassen, the show is loosely inspired by the real-life story of Jeanie Buss, the longtime owner of the Los Angeles Lakers. For Song, this project wasn't just another acting gig — it was something she had been unknowingly preparing for her entire life.
"I literally would have done anything on the show," she admitted with a laugh. "I told my agent, 'Do you need a PA? Do you need an assistant?' I would've done whatever it took."
A Basketball Fan Since Birth
Song's love affair with basketball didn't begin on a Netflix set — it started in her living room as a child. Her father and younger brother were devoted Chicago Bulls fans during the Michael Jordan era, and the sport was a constant presence in her household.
"My personal favorite was Dennis Rodman," she revealed. "I loved his defensive intensity and his relentless hustle. That's where it all began for me."
Her allegiance shifted dramatically in 1996 when a young Kobe Bryant was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers. From that point on, Song was a committed Lakers fan, tracking all 82 games each season — whether watching on television or tuning in via radio with the legendary commentary duo of Chick Hearn and Stu Lantz.
When Bryant retired in 2016, Song was so emotionally affected that she stepped back from watching basketball altogether for a couple of years. "It just wasn't the same for me," she explained. "Kobe was my steady throughout all of it."
Football Entered the Picture — Thanks to Macaulay Culkin
During her hiatus from basketball, Song discovered a new sporting passion: football. She credits her longtime partner, fellow former child star Macaulay Culkin, with opening that door.
"I walked in one morning and there was a Rams versus Seahawks game on," she recalled. "After that, it was over for me. People don't realize just how big a sports fan Mac really is."
Her love for basketball was reignited during the pandemic, when she began following the sport again with renewed enthusiasm — right around the time the Running Point opportunity came knocking.
Why Mindy Kaling Made This a No-Brainer
Beyond the basketball connection, Song's admiration for creator Mindy Kaling played a significant role in her enthusiasm for the project. A devoted fan of both The Office and The Mindy Project, Song describes Kaling's creative voice as immediately recognizable and consistently brilliant.
"When you hear Mindy Kaling's name attached to something, you already know what kind of comedy you're in for," Song said. "It's going to be witty, fast, and it's going to push boundaries."
Her first meeting with Kaling, Barinholtz, and Stassen over Zoom quickly turned into an extended conversation about basketball — particularly the shared reverence all parties had for their respective hometown teams. That authentic connection sealed the deal.
"We were just the same," Song said of bonding with the producers over rewatching classic games and iconic sports moments whenever they needed a lift.
Ali's Big Moment in Season 2
One of the standout storylines in Running Point Season 2 involves Ali confronting a deeply relatable professional dilemma — asking for a raise from her best friend, who is now also her boss.
Song describes this arc as both comedically rich and emotionally grounded. While Ali is the kind of confident, type-A professional who wouldn't hesitate to make demands in any other context, the dynamic between her and Isla complicates everything.
"Ali has always believed in Isla, even more than Isla believes in herself," Song explained. "Now they're navigating completely new territory in their friendship, and it's genuinely uncomfortable for Ali."
What makes the scene particularly memorable, according to Song, is Ali arriving to the conversation armed with note cards — a perfectly on-brand touch for a woman who is simultaneously over-prepared and emotionally out of her depth.
"I think it reflects something so many women experience," Song said thoughtfully. "Society has somehow convinced us that we don't deserve more. That's why I love that moment so much. It's a reminder that it's okay to stand up for yourself, even when it's messy."
The Friendship at the Heart of the Show
At its core, Running Point is a story about female friendship, and Song speaks warmly about what it was like to develop that dynamic alongside Kate Hudson on screen.
"Kate is genuinely the best scene partner," she said. "We talked with the producers about how Ali and Isla have never really clashed before this. They've always just worked. So this season was the first time we got to explore them actually fighting, and it was really fun to dig into that."
The season also introduced Ray Romano into the mix — a development that left Song visibly starstruck. "I kept thinking, what is my life right now? Little Brenda would never believe this," she laughed.
Disney Channel, Representation, and Looking Ahead
Song, who rose to fame through Disney Channel's biggest early 2000s productions, also took a moment to reflect on that chapter of her career — and to push back against the notion that those years were creatively limited.
In her view, Disney Channel was ahead of the curve when it came to onscreen representation, a point she feels doesn't get nearly enough credit.
As for what's next, Song shows no signs of slowing down. She recently wrapped filming on a Netflix comedy called The Fifth Wheel, directed by Eva Longoria and co-starring Nikki Glaser, Fortune Feimster, and Kim Kardashian. She also completed work on The Last Showgirl prior to jumping into Running Point Season 2.
"The thing I love most about being an actor is picking up a script and figuring out whether I can make it believable," she said. "I don't really have a singular dream role, because honestly, that would take the fun out of it."
With a career already spanning over three decades — and clearly only gaining momentum — Brenda Song doesn't need a dream role. She's already living it.
