Overview

• The Fire officially named former WNBA player and Boston/Maine Celtics executive Ashley Battle as vice president of basketball operations, strategy and innovation.
• A team LinkedIn post briefly welcomed Cavaliers assistant Alex Sarama as head coach before being deleted, and the Fire said no contract is signed and no hire is official.
• Multiple outlets previously reported Sarama was expected to be announced, but The Oregonian now reports talks have hit a snag, leaving his status in doubt.
• Sarama’s résumé includes roles with the Cavaliers and G League’s Rip City Remix, prior collaboration with GM Vanja Černivec at the London Lions, and a reputation for the Constraints-Led Approach to player development.
• Portland’s rollout has featured earlier missteps, including a trademark leak and the ouster of its first president, while expansion-draft timing awaits resolution of WNBA–WNBPA CBA negotiations ahead of a 2026 debut at the Moda Center.