The Portland Fire is hiring Vanja Černivec (VAHN-Yuh Cher-NEE-Vich) to be the franchise’s first General Manager as they prepare to tip off their inaugural season, according to a team press release. Currently with the Golden State Valkyries as their Vice President of Basketball Operations, Černivec will begin her role with the Fire on September 15th. As Portland takes the next step towards building a team for next season, it finally has a leader who is in charge of all basketball operations. Once Černivec begins her tenure with the Fire, she will choose the franchise’s first head coach, along with building a roster through the expansion draft and free agency.

With Portland unveiling its new name in July, the team has answered the much-anticipated question of who will lead the franchise and build towards a championship.

“Vanja is a visionary, and we are confident she will help define what this franchise can be,” said Lisa Bhathal Merage, Portland Fire Co-Owner and Governor, in a statement. “As a foundational leader in this new chapter for the Fire, she brings the experience, integrity, and passion for advancing the women’s game that this moment demands.”

Černivec’s experience with the Valkyries, the league’s first expansion team, will pay dividends for the Fire. As they begin growing from the ground up like Golden State, she will provide expertise in how to build a team that’s able to compete sooner rather than later. With less than a month left in the regular season, the Valkyries are in seventh in the league, primed for the playoffs in their inaugural year. Černivec has certainly played a part in building Golden State to be a playoff team and will bring that knowledge to Portland.

“I am honored to join the Fire with a vision to build the most innovative and groundbreaking team in women’s basketball,” said Černivec in a statement. “Portland is a city with a deep passion for the game, and I want this team to reflect that energy in this new era – rooted in legacy, fueled by passion, and driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence.”

She also has experience as a scout at multiple levels, including the NBA with the Chicago Bulls from 2020-2022, as she was the first female international scout in franchise history. Additionally, Černivec was the General Manager of the London Lions of Super League Basketball. In her two seasons overseeing basketball operations for the franchise, she helped build a championship program that captured the club’s first FIBA EuroCup Women’s title, as well as back-to-back Women’s British Basketball League Championships in 2023 and 2024.

With 13,000 season ticket deposits made thus far, the Fire has been reignited in Portland with their new General Manager ready to lead the charge for seasons to come.