The Portland Fire is set to announce the team's general manager next week, reporter Sean Highkin wrote Saturday — and they're poaching a member of the Golden State Valkyries' staff to make it happen. According to Highkin, the team will announce current Valkyries VP of basketball operations Vanja Černivec as General Manager.
Černivec, who joined the Valkyries last summer, has over 12 years of experience in the role. She previously served as GM of the London Lions and Head of Global Academy, and is especially adept at identifying and signing international talent. That skill has benefited the Valkyries enormously, especially as the team inches closer toward making a playoff run during their inaugural season.
This is the update Fire fans need
The news is also a welcome update for the Fire and the team's fans, especially since ownership fired the team's former president, Inky Son, only weeks before its official launch. Clare Hamill has stepped in as interim president, and presumably a search is underway for a long-term candidate (or Hamill herself could stay in the position).
The dismissal of Son came as a surprise, as RAJ Sports had celebrated her hiring only months before. Unlike the Toronto Tempo, who announced the team's branding and identity in December 2024 – a full year before their anticipated Expansion Draft this coming December — the Fire delayed any similar announcements for months. The Tempo also named Monica Wright Rogers as GM in February 2025.
There have been concerns about the fact that the team's ownership group, which is led by Alex Bhathal and Lisa Bhathal Merage, do not actually live in Portland. RAJ Sports is based in California, though the group also owns the Portland Thorns. RAJ Sports are also investors in the Sacramento Kings, the Sacramento RiverCats, and the Stockton Kings.
Černivec will help build the Fire's team culture
The Fire also recently announced the team has secured 13,000 season deposits, which bodes well for the incoming team. The team is expected to play at the Moda Center, which is home to the recently sold Trail Blazers (the team is now owned by Tom Dundon, who has pledged to keep them in Rose City). The arena has a capacity of 20,500, which could potentially make for extremely exciting home games.
Bulding that team culture and extending it to the community will presumably be top of mind for Černivec if and when she assumes her post — and she's had the opportunity to learn on the ground with the Valkyries all season. Should she be officially announced, the news will likely calm the fears of many who have questioned if the Fire will be able to get off the ground — and it will give fans plenty to look forward to.