With the opening tip for the Portland Fire in its first season back in the WNBA less than nine months away, the club finally has its GM. Vanja Cernivec was announced on Monday as the Fire’s general manager. Originally from Slovenia, Cernivec comes comes to the Fire with wide-ranging experience both in the WNBA and internationally.

Cernivec was hired away from the Golden State Valkyries where she served as vice president of basketball operations. She brings to the Fire valuable experience helping guide an expansion franchise through its first season. At Golden State, Cernivec worked on day-to-day basketball operations, hired coaches, and led the scouting department through the 2024 expansion draft and the 2025 WNBA Draft.

After her playing career ended, Cernivec worked with the NBA for si

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