Alex Sarama, Cavs Assistant, Will Lead New WNBA Portland Fire Team

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 inaugural head coach of their expansion franchise in the WNBA. The news was confirmed by the team and Sarama himself. 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 approach has caught the attention of players like Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs and coaches like Kenny Atkinson, of the Cavaliers.

Having the opportunity to implement the principles of CLA (Constraints-Led Approach) with an expansion team is ideal.

Alex Sarama

Sarama expressed that the opportunity to implement the CLA approach with an expansion team is a perfect scenario. 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, from the Golden State Valkyries, where she served as vice president of basketball operations, has a deep understanding of the European market. Černivec met Sarama years ago, highlighting her intellect and passion for coaching.

For me, he was a genius.

Vanja Černivec

In addition to his academy, Sarama has had successful stints as a coach with the London Lions, Paris Basketball, and RipCity Remix. His renown grew after the publication of his book “Transforming Basketball” in 2024. Atkinson, after reading the book, brought him on as a player development coach for the Cavaliers. The CLA approach focuses on adaptability, improvisation, and decision-making, rather than predetermined movement patterns and exercises. Sarama rarely repeats the same exercises, using games with restrictions to force players to make decisions under pressure. Sarama explained that players often appreciate this approach, as it offers a change from their NBA experience. This makes training more engaging and creative. Hiring NBA coaches is becoming increasingly common in the WNBA, as demonstrated by the success of the Phoenix Mercury with Nate Tibbetts and Nick U’Ren. Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase also comes from an assistant position in the NBA.

The best thing is to be able to start from scratch.

Vanja Černivec

Sarama and the Cavaliers are discussing when she will leave Cleveland to start full-time in Portland. The WNBA collective bargaining agreement expires on October 31, and it is not yet known 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.