Overview

• Černivec will begin on Sept. 15 after completing the Golden State Valkyries’ regular season duties.
• She has served as vice president of basketball operations for Golden State, helping assemble a debut roster that has 19 wins and a live playoff push.
• Her remit includes overseeing all basketball operations, selecting the first head coach, and constructing the initial roster for the team’s 2026 debut.
• Portland enters the league next season alongside the Toronto Tempo as part of the WNBA’s expansion plan.
• The franchise reports more than 13,000 season-ticket deposits and a new Hillsboro practice facility, following earlier leadership turnover that saw Inky Son depart and Clare Hamill step in as interim president.