Portland Fire GM Vanja Černivec on building a WNBA expansion team from scratch, the Valkyries model, international players, and a playoff push in year one.
By Ted Taylor
June 16, 2026 • 09:00 am
Vanja Černivec joins Dan Roberts of Front Office Sports to discuss:
Building the Fire roster under extreme CBA timeline pressure
Why she doesn’t believe in copying and pasting from the Valkyries model
GM Vanja Černivec told Front Office Sports that the expansion team “100%” wants to make the WNBA playoffs.
The city’s original WNBA franchise disbanded back in 2002. But with the league in a new era, Portland is the first expansion team…
What's troubling the Fever? Why are the expansion teams thriving? Catch up on the W in Sabreena Merchant's rankings.
Portland Fire are set for their debut season in the WNBA. Their coach has completed an unlikely journey to the top of his sport
The Valkyries have exceeded expectations under Nakase in their first season.
Around the league, former role players are breaking through as stars for their new squads. Plus: the Mercury’s slump and the fits…
