Overview

• The Fire named Ashley Battle vice president of basketball operations, strategy and innovation on Tuesday ahead of the franchise’s 2026 launch.
• The team says she will oversee roster construction, talent identification, player performance and analytics.
• Battle most recently served as assistant general manager for the Maine Celtics, previously worked as a Boston Celtics scout, and has been a Connecticut Sun color commentator.
• GM Vanja Černivec praised Battle’s multi‑dimensional background as key to building a modern, holistic organization centered on player development and culture.
• Portland reports 12,500 season‑ticket deposits since the July name reveal, with Moda Center home games slated for 2026 alongside Toronto’s new team, while expansion draft timing is pending CBA negotiations.