Portland Fire Names Alex Sarama as Head Coach

The Portland Fire announced the hiring of Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Alex Sarama as the first head coach in franchise history on Friday.

Earlier this week, the Fire hired Ashley Battle as Vice President of Basketball Operations, Strategy, and Innovation. Now, Portland has its head coach to lead the team into its inaugural WNBA season in 2026.

“The opportunity to build something from the ground up is unique,” Sarama said in a press release. “At the Fire, we’re not just creating a team – we’re redefining how the game is taught and played, through an approach centered around adaptability and supported by evidence-informed methodologies. We want to create a new standard for the game.”

Sarama spent more than a year with the Cleveland Cavaliers as Director of Player Development before being promoted to assistant coach under Kenny Atkinson‘s staff in July. His extensive coaching résumé also includes experience overseas and in the NBA G League.

Alex Sarama has crafted a solid reputation on the NBA circuit, has experience w/Vanja Cernivec at the London Lions, plus brings a sense of “innovation” (especially with his CLA-based training methods).

Definitely a forward-thinking approach. https://t.co/NpsFEWy3cx

— Alford Corriette (@alfcorriette) October 15, 2025

He is also the founder of Transforming Basketball, a leading global resource for basketball coaching education, and served as an Associate Manager with the NBA for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa from 2016 to 2019. 

Fire General Manager Vanja Černivec is familiar with Sarama from their days together with the London Lions, when Sarama served as Director of Methodology. 

“Alex represents the next generation of coaching,” Černivec said. “He’s not just teaching the game, he’s transforming it. His approach to player development, grounded in evidence-based science, research, and creativity, aligns with our vision to make Portland a global hub for innovation in women’s sports.”

The hiring of Sarama by the Portland Fire marks the first domino to fall in the offseason, while the Dallas Wings, New York Liberty, Seattle Storm, and Toronto Tempo are still in the process of hiring their new head coaches.

Portland Fire Builds Leadership Team Ahead of 2026 Sebut

So far, notable names such as Lindsey Harding, Kristi Toliver, and others from the  WNBA and NBA coaching ranks have been mentioned in Ben Pickman’s report for The Athletic.  The big question is where Sandy Brondello will end up after parting ways with the New York Liberty just last month.

The Portland Fire are preparing for their first WNBA season and are quickly assembling their front office and coaching staff after falling behind earlier this year. Their leadership trio—Battle, Černivec, and Sarama— along with their international and NBA experiences, will help elevate the team in its debut season and for years to come.

The next step for the franchise is to build its roster and establish a strong team culture and identity. The franchise will also make its WNBA debut in 2026.

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