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 announcement marks a significant milestone for the team, which is preparing for its league debut. 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 been adopted by prominent players like Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs and coaches like Kenny Atkinson of the Cavaliers.Sarama expressed his enthusiasm for implementing the CLA approach in an expansion team, which will allow him and General Manager Vanja Černivec to select personnel that fits this new system, avoiding the need to unlearn previous methods. The CLA approach focuses on adaptability, improvisation, and decision-making, rather than predetermined movement patterns and exercises. Sarama, for example, rarely repeats the same exercise twice, opting for small-sided games with different constraints to encourage decision-making under pressure. Černivec, who joins Fire after working at the Valkyries, where she served as vice president of basketball operations, has a deep understanding of the European market. She met Sarama years ago at the NBA office in Europe in Madrid, being impressed by his intellect and passion for coaching. Sarama has had successful coaching experiences with the London Lions, Paris Basketball, and RipCity Remix. His recognition grew after the publication of his bestselling book, “Transforming Basketball”, in 2024. The CLA methodology has proven to be a success, as the players appreciate the change in their training routine. Sarama hopes that his transition to Portland will be smooth, although the details of his departure from Cleveland and his full-time incorporation in Portland are still being discussed. The WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement expires on October 31st, and negotiations on the new agreement could affect the expansion draft and free agency. For the moment, Sarama will continue in Cleveland, but expects to begin her work in Portland soon, which will begin its participation in the league in May 2026.Having the opportunity to implement CLA (Constraints-Led Approach) principles with an expansion team is an ideal scenario.
Alex Sarama
