Alex Sarama Will Lead the New WNBA Team in Portland
The Portland Fire have announced Alex Sarama, assistant coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, as the head coach of their new WNBA team. The announcement marks a significant milestone for the expansion franchise, which is preparing for its inaugural season. Sarama is recognized as an expert in an innovative training system that has gained popularity in European basketball, soccer, and, increasingly, in the NBA. This system has been adopted by figures like Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs and coaches like Kenny Atkinson of the Cavaliers.Sarama explained that the structure of an expansion team offers a unique opportunity to implement its training philosophy. This allows management to hire personnel that fits the new system, avoiding the need to unlearn previous systems. The team’s general manager, Vanja Černivec, who comes from the Golden State Valkyries, where she served as vice president of basketball operations, also shares this vision. Černivec, with a deep knowledge of the European market, met Sarama years ago and was impressed by his intellect and passion for coaching. Sarama has had successful coaching experiences with the London Lions and Paris Basketball, as well as the RipCity Remix. His prestige grew after the publication of his book “Transforming Basketball” in 2024. The CLA methodology focuses on adaptability, improvisation, and decision-making, rather than predetermined patterns and exercises. Sarama uses games with constraints, such as changes in rules, modifications in scoring, or time limits, to force players to make decisions under pressure.Having the opportunity to implement the principles of CLA (Constraints-Led Approach) with an expansion team is an ideal scenario.
Alex Sarama
The arrival of NBA coaches in the WNBA is increasingly common, as demonstrated by the success of the Phoenix Mercury and the Golden State Valkyries. Černivec highlights the advantage of starting from scratch, without the need to unlearn previous knowledge. Sarama indicated that they are still discussing with the Cavaliers when she will join Portland full-time. The WNBA collective bargaining agreement expires on October 31, and it is still unknown how the negotiations will affect the expansion draft and free agency. For now, she will remain in Cleveland, but hopes to start soon in Portland, which will begin its participation in May 2026.Players love it; it’s a refreshing change from what they’ve always done in their NBA careers.
Alex Sarama