The Portland Fire is adding to its front office by hiring Ashley Battle as the Vice President of Basketball Operations, Strategy, and Innovation, according to a team press release. She will assist General Manager Vanja Černivec in constructing a roster and identifying talent through different player performance strategies and analytics. As the Fire prepare for their first offseason in the WNBA, Battle’s prior experience could be beneficial in building a championship culture.

“It’s exciting to be part of a franchise that’s reimagining what player development and team culture can look like,” said Battle in a statement. “Having been in the players’ shoes, I know how powerful it is when an organization invests in every aspect of an athlete’s growth. The Fire is building something special, and I’m proud to now be contributing to that vision.”

Battle's basketball journey began at the University of Connecticut, where she helped the Huskies win three national championships from 2002 to 2004. Following her career with UConn, she was drafted 25th overall in the 2005 WNBA Draft. Known as a tenacious defender, she played in the league for six seasons, primarily for the New York Liberty, before finishing her playing career with the San Antonio Silver Stars. Her days on the court played a valuable role in her post-career endeavors before she arrived in Portland. Battle most recently served as the Assistant General Manager for the Maine Celtics, the G League affiliate of the Boston Celtics, for whom she also worked as a scout. In her role with the Fire, Battle will be reporting to Černivec, who is excited to utilize her on and off-court experience.  

“Ashley’s multi-dimensional experience uniquely positions her to help the Portland Fire build a modern, holistic women’s basketball organization,” added Černivec in a statement. “Her insight as a former player will be especially invaluable from day one as we shape the future of this team.”

Coming from the Golden State Valkyries, Černivec is no stranger to building a successful expansion franchise. The Valkyries were the first expansion team to make the playoffs in their inaugural season, losing to the Minnesota Lynx in the first round. Battle will work together with Černivec, hoping to replicate that success with the Fire next season. While Battle’s playing experience will pay dividends, she also has a fresh perspective on the talent in the league, which will be helpful when selecting players for the roster.

Along with her role with the Celtics, Battle spent the last three seasons providing in-game color commentary for the Connecticut Sun, bringing her on-court knowledge to the broadcast booth. As Portland continues building its franchise, adding Battle is an important step with the expansion draft and free agency looming. Although Portland will have to wait for the expansion draft until a new CBA is agreed upon, they are bringing in the right people to build a successful roster.

As Portland works to solidify its front office, they are also in the process of selecting its first head coach. With the Fire adding Blake, she will play a key role in bringing a championship culture to the Rose City.