PORTLAND, Ore. (Aug. 25, 2025) — The WNBA’s newest franchise, the Portland Fire, announced Monday the hiring of Vanja Cernivec as the team’s inaugural general manager. Cernivec arrives from the Golden State Valkyries, where she has served as vice president of basketball operations and played a key role in shaping what has quickly become the most successful expansion team in league history.
The appointment marks a major step forward for Portland as the franchise prepares for its return to the league in 2026. For Cernivec, it represents both a career milestone and a chance to establish the Fire’s foundation in one of the league’s most passionate basketball markets.
A Proven Team Builder
Cernivec has built a reputation as one of the rising executives in women’s basketball. Working under Golden State general manager Ohemaa Nyanin, she was instrumental in constructing the Valkyries’ international-heavy roster that has surprised the league in its debut campaign.
At 19-18 with seven games remaining, Golden State is firmly in playoff contention, a feat no other expansion team in WNBA history has achieved in its first season. Of the 19 players who have appeared for the Valkyries this year, 10 hail from outside the United States — a reflection of Cernivec’s global perspective and scouting expertise.
Even without the services of Lithuanian phenom Juste Jocyte, the Valkyries’ first-ever draft selection who elected to delay her WNBA debut at age 19, Golden State has emerged as one of the league’s most compelling stories of 2025.
Success Abroad and NBA Ties
Before joining Golden State, Cernivec spent two seasons as general manager of the London Lions, where she oversaw the club’s rise to prominence on the European stage. Her tenure culminated with a EuroCup Women’s championship in 2024, establishing the Lions as one of the premier programs in international basketball.
A native of Slovenia, Cernivec also brings extensive experience from her time with the NBA, where she worked in global talent identification. She later served as an international scout for the Chicago Bulls, broadening her exposure to elite basketball talent worldwide and further honing the evaluative skills that have defined her front-office career.
A New Era for Portland
The Fire’s decision to entrust Cernivec with their basketball operations underscores the franchise’s desire to blend international scouting acumen with a modern approach to roster construction. Her track record suggests she is uniquely positioned to take on the challenge of building a team from the ground up in a competitive league where talent is spread thin.
Portland re-enters the WNBA landscape with both opportunity and pressure. The city has long been considered a strong basketball market, with the legacy of the original Portland Fire franchise (2000–2002) still remembered by local fans. This relaunch carries high expectations, and the hiring of Cernivec signals the organization’s commitment to sustainable success.
“Portland offers a chance to build something special,” Cernivec said in a statement. “This city has a deep love for basketball, and I’m honored to help shape the Fire into a franchise that reflects both the community and the global growth of the women’s game.”
Looking Ahead
Cernivec’s immediate task will be overseeing player acquisitions ahead of the Fire’s debut season in 2026. That process will likely involve a mix of expansion draft selections, free agency signings, and international scouting — areas where her experience provides a clear advantage.
The hiring also reinforces a trend across the WNBA of franchises embracing executives with diverse global backgrounds. With the women’s game growing rapidly worldwide, Cernivec’s ability to bridge domestic and international talent pools could prove invaluable for Portland.
As the Fire prepare for tipoff in 2026, Cernivec’s leadership offers a clear vision: a franchise built with both local passion and international reach. For Portland fans, Monday’s announcement signals the official beginning of a new era in the Rose City.
