The Portland Fire team 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.
Under their leadership, the Valkyries have built a successful team, positioned for the playoffs with a record of 19-18 and seven games remaining in the regular season. It is noteworthy that no WNBA expansion team has managed to reach the playoffs in its first season.
In her current role, Cernivec collaborated with the general manager of the Valkyries, Ohemaa Nyanin, in forming a roster with a strong international presence. Of the 19 players who have participated with the Valkyries this season, 10 were born outside the United States. This figure does not include Juste Jocyte, the franchise’s first pick in the WNBA draft, who decided not to play this season at the age of 19.
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.
According to the Fire’s statement, Cernivec will finish the regular season with the Valkyries before taking up 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.
