The finale of ‘Running Point’ season 1 saw Isla lead the Waves to Game Seven of the playoffs

Scott MacArthur as Ness Gordon, Kate Hudson as Isla Gordon and Drew Carver as Sandy Gordon in Netflix’s ‘Running Point.’. Photo: Katrina Marcinowski/Netflix

The season 1 finale of Running Point was full of multiple buzzer-beaters that no one saw coming.

Inspired by Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, the Netflix comedy follows Isla Gordon (Kate Hudson), who is suddenly tasked with taking over her family’s business: the Los Angeles Waves.

When the eldest Gordon brother is forced to step down, he appoints Isla as president instead of their brothers, Ness (Scott MacArthur) and Sandy (Drew Tarver), who are the team’s general manager and CFO, respectively. In response, they’re skeptical about whether or not their younger sister has what it takes to run the Waves.

With the support of her fiancé Lev (Max Greenfield) and best friend/Waves chief of staff Ali (Brenda Song), Isla fully embraces her new role. By the finale, she has gone from an underdog to a leader. Still, between evolving relationships, an intense playoff game and familial drama, the finale ended with several cliffhangers and unanswered questions that left fans speculating about the show’s future.

After the title stayed on Netflix’s Top 10 for the first week of its release, the series was officially renewed for another chapter on March 6. “We are so thrilled to be able to deliver a Season 2 of Running Point to the fans of the show,” co-creator Mindy Kaling told Tudum.

Additionally, during a February 2025 conversation with Decider, MacArthur opened up about the show’s future potential and mentioned how “expansive” it is.

“I think if there were more stories to tell, we’ll just keep exploring these relationships because each time the characters are in different combinations, there are new colors in new light,” he said. “I think that would be just a lot of fun because there’s a lot there.”

Here’s everything to know about Running Point‘s season 1 cliffhangers — and what it means for the show’s second installment.

Warning: Running Point season 1 spoilers ahead!

How did Running Point season 1 end?

A scene from episode 10 of Netflix’s ‘Running Point.’.Netflix© 2024

Despite people underestimating her potential as president of the Waves at the beginning of the season, Isla leads the team to Game 7 of the playoffs. Before the game begins, she gives a motivational pep talk in the locker room, reflecting on what she has overcome, followed by the rallying cry, “John Wick!”

When the game kicks off, the score is close for the majority of the intense competition against the Portland Trail Blazers — especially because the team is adjusting to being without their star player, Travis Buggs (Chet Hanks) who has gone to rehab. Although they are falling a few points behind throughout the game, the teams find themselves neck-and-neck in the final minute, with the Waves down by one.

In the final three seconds, a foul grants the Waves’ undrafted rookie Dyson Gibbs (Uche Agada) two free throws — which he makes, putting them into a tie just before the buzzer. That is until the opposing team makes a shot from the middle of the court and wins the game. As a result, the Waves don’t advance to the Western Conference Finals after all.

Where do Isla and Lev stand?

Max Greenfield as Lev Levinson and Kate Hudson as Isla Gordon in Netflix’s ‘Running Point.’.Kat Marcinowski/Netflix

When Isla steps into her role as president of the Waves, she throws herself wholeheartedly into the team and its players. But in doing so, she has had less time to focus on her relationship with her longtime fiancé, Lev (including missing his recognition at the American Pediatric Awards for a “work emergency”). As the season unfolds, tensions rise, and by the final episode, Lev has moved out of their home.

Soon after, Isla is shocked to learn that Lev is moving to Minnesota for a new career opportunity — a big disruption to her plan that they would get back together. When she comes to the emotional realization that she took him for granted, Isla’s brothers encourage her to stop him from leaving.

Isla then shows up to Lev’s office to proclaim her love, saying that taking him for granted was the “biggest mistake” of her life.

“Your life is here. It’s with me,” Isla tells him. “I don’t know what I would do without you, Lev.”

He tells Isla to be patient as he processes the situation, but Lev appears to make this decision clear when he doesn’t show up to watch the big game.

As Isla explains in the end, she isn’t quite sure where she stands with Lev, though she might have other romances brewing closer to the court.

What happened between Isla and Coach Jay?

Jay Ellis as Coach Jay and Kate Hudson as Isla Gordon in Netflix’s ‘Running Point.’.Katrina Marcinowski/Netflix© 2024

While Isla has been slowly drifting apart from her fiancé throughout the season, she finds herself growing increasingly close to Coach Jay (Jay Ellis).

In episode 8, she makes the surprising decision to let him end his contract three years early — a choice that later upsets her brothers. Isla tells Jay that she understands what it’s like to grow up with an absent father and wants to give him the chance to be there for his daughters in Boston, where they live with his ex-wife.

But by the season 1 finale, their bond reaches new heights as they share an intimate post-game moment. After the Waves’ tough loss, Isla is commiserating alone in the arena when Jay appears to comfort her.

In an emotional conversation reflecting on the season, she expresses that she is sad to see him go to Boston. The moment leads to a sudden (and steamy) courtside kiss — only for Jay to abruptly and awkwardly pull away and leave.

Does Cam return to his job with the Waves?

Justin Theroux as Cam Gordon in Netflix’s ‘The Running Point.’.Netflix© 2024

Throughout most of the season, Cam (Justin Theroux) — Isla’s brother, who passed the presidential role down to her — has been in rehab. He’s been a largely supportive figure in Isla’s life and chose her for the role because he thought she would be the best for the job.

But Cam may not have her best interests at heart, as it turns out he’s been the “leak” causing trouble from afar by spreading rumors that the Waves would potentially be trading Marcus, one of their star players.

As the season goes on, Cam tries to bribe his way out of rehab, though it’s not confirmed whether or not he was successful in leaving — until the very end of season 1.

In the final scene, Isla arrives at her office the morning after the team’s devastating Game 7 loss, ready and determined to take on her second season as president. But as Isla steps inside, she finds Cam lounging in her chair with his feet propped up on the desk, looking right at home.

“What’s up, sis? I’m back,” he says in the final moment of the season.

Will there be a season 2 of Running Point?

Kate Hudson as Isla Gordon in Netflix’s ‘Running Point.’.Netflix© 2024

Good news, Waves fans! Running Point was officially renewed by Netflix on March 6. Prior to its renewal, the cast expressed their excitement to return for new episodes.

During the February 2025 conversation with Decider, Ellis shared that because the show reflects “the real world of a sports franchise and an NBA franchise,” he thinks there’s potential for longevity.

“It’s constantly ever-changing and the dynamics are constantly changing and how these characters react to those dynamics and and each other as they’re growing and stumbling their way through this,” he explained. “It’s such a fun thing to explore … I think it could go as long as Netflix is willing to write the check.”

Hudson echoed the hopes for another season during a February 2025 conversation with Entertainment Tonight, saying, “I had so much fun doing this. I just want to keep doing it.”

Co-creator Kaling then chimed in to directly reference the CEO of Netflix, saying, “This is a message to Ted Sarandos: We love making the show, if you want to just pick us up for five more seasons.”

“It really was such a dream,” she continued. “I’m behind the camera on this, but writing for Kate, writing for Brenda, I mean hard comedy, and just having them just nail these jokes, it just made our life so easy.”

While a five-season order hasn’t happened just yet, it’s only a matter of time before Isla and the Waves are back on the court.