Alex Sarama, new coach of the WNBA expansion team in Portland
The Portland Fire have announced the hiring of Alex Sarama, assistant coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, as head coach of their expansion franchise in the WNBA. The announcement was made by the team and Sarama himself. Sarama is recognized as an authority on an innovative training system that has gained popularity in European basketball, soccer, and, increasingly, in the NBA. This system has been adopted by players like Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs and coaches like Kenny Atkinson, of the Cavaliers.Sarama explained that this approach allows him and the general manager, Vanja Černivec, to hire staff that fits the new system, avoiding the need to unlearn previous systems. Černivec, who comes from the Golden State Valkyries, where she served as vice president of basketball operations, has a deep knowledge of the European market. She met Sarama years ago at the NBA office in Europe in Madrid, and was impressed by his intellect and passion for coaching.“The opportunity to implement CLA (Constraints-Led Approach) principles with an expansion team is ideal,” Sarama stated. “We will have the possibility to impact each department and adopt a completely unified approach.”
Alex Sarama
In addition to his academy, Sarama had successful stints as a coach with the London Lions, Paris Basketball, and RipCity Remix. His fame grew after the publication of his book “Transforming Basketball” in 2024. Atkinson, who read the book, brought him in as a player development coach for the Cavaliers. The CLA is a training methodology that emphasizes adaptability, improvisation, and decision-making, rather than predetermined movement patterns and exercises. Sarama rarely repeats the same exercise, instead using small-sided games with different restrictions to force players to make decisions under pressure. Sarama explained that players usually enjoy this approach, as it offers a change from their NBA experience. “It’s much more appealing,” he commented. The incorporation of coaches from the NBA is increasingly common in the WNBA, as demonstrated by the success of the Phoenix Mercury and the Golden State Valkyries. 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 still unclear how the negotiations will affect the expansion draft and free agency. For now, she will remain in Cleveland, but hopes to start her stage in Portland soon, which will begin its participation in May 2026.“For me, he was a genius,” said Černivec. “He produced documents that would take me two hours in five or ten minutes. His obsession was always training.”
Vanja Černivec
