Vanja Cernivec, new general manager of the WNBA expansion team in Portland
The Portland Fire team announced this Monday the appointment of Vanja Cernivec, current vice president of basketball operations for the Golden State Valkyries, as the inaugural general manager of the WNBA expansion franchise.
Cernivec has played a fundamental role in building what has been the most successful expansion team in league history. The Golden State Valkyries, with a record of 19-18, are in a playoff position with seven games remaining in the regular season. No WNBA expansion team has ever reached the playoffs in its debut season.
Under the direction of Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin, Cernivec contributed to the international composition of the Golden State team. Of the 19 players who have participated with the Valkyries this season, 10 were born outside the United States. This figure does not include the franchise’s first pick in the WNBA draft, Lithuanian forward Juste Jocyte, who decided not to play in the league this season at 19 years old.
Before joining Golden State, Cernivec was general manager of the London Lions for two seasons, building a team that won the Women’s EuroCup championship in 2024. Originally from Slovenia, Cernivec also worked for the NBA in talent identification and as an international scout for the Chicago Bulls.
In a statement, the Fire indicated that Cernivec will finish the regular season with the Valkyries before assuming her duties in Portland on September 15. The Fire, along with the Toronto Tempo, will join the WNBA in 2026. Toronto hired its general manager, Monica Wright Rogers, in February. Neither team has yet hired a head coach.
