Netflix's new hit comedy Running Point is a must-watch TV show for anyone interested in an empowering story about women in sports. Co-created by Mindy Kaling, the first 10-episode season stars Kate Hudson as Isla Gordon, a reformed party girl whose family owns a pro basketball team, the Los Angeles Waves. Isla has loved basketball since she was young, but her father was a "sexist asshole," so he passed her over as the team's next president. But when her brother (played by Justin Theroux) lands in rehab due to a drug scandal, Isla is shockingly tapped to become the team's new owner—and the most powerful woman in basketball.
Since Running Point's premiere, sports fans have noticed that the fictional Isla sounds (and looks, TBH) similar to real-life L.A. Lakers president Jeanie Buss, who's also part of a basketball dynasty. The similarity is partially intentional, as Buss is involved in the Netflix series, serving as an executive producer. However, Buss's real-life story is much different than the show—though still one of a woman who worked to the top of the sports industry and made history. Read on for everything to know about Jeanie Buss, including her surprising connection to her somewhat on-screen counterpart, Kate Hudson.
