Portland Fire announced this Monday the appointment of Vanja Cernivec as general manager for its expansion franchise in the WNBA.
Cernivec, who currently serves as the vice president of basketball operations for the Golden State Valkyries, will take over the position in Portland, marking a significant milestone for the team.
In his current role, Cernivec has contributed significantly to the construction of a successful team. The Golden State Valkyries, with a record of 19-18, are in a playoff position with seven games remaining in the regular season. This is a remarkable achievement, as no WNBA expansion team has managed to reach the playoffs in its debut season.
Working under the supervision of Ohemaa Nyanin, general manager of the Valkyries, Cernivec has played a key role in shaping a roster with a strong international presence. Of the 19 players who have participated this season with the Valkyries, 10 were born outside the United States. This figure does not include Juste Jocyte, the team’s first pick in the WNBA draft, who decided not to play in the league this season.
Before joining Golden State, Cernivec was general manager of the London Lions for two seasons, where she built 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.
According to a statement, Cernivec will finish the regular season with the Valkyries before assuming her responsibilities in Portland on September 15. The Fire, along with the Toronto Tempo team, will join the WNBA in 2026. Toronto hired Monica Wright Rogers as their general manager in February. Neither team has yet hired a head coach.
