The Golden State Valkyries set the tone for the upcoming expansion teams. The franchise chose an unorthodox way, choosing a mix of veteran and fresh faces for its inaugural season. They handed many European stars a chance to shine in the WNBA.
Along with the players, their back office and coaching staff also included many non-Americans, including their vice president of operations, who is now on the Portland Fire’s radar.
Portland Fire Sets Eyes On Golden State Valkyries’ VP As Their First GM
The WNBA recently announced three new franchises as part of its expansion plan for the next five years. But the league could welcome two more sides, Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, in the 2026 season. With the addition of the Valkyries, the league already experienced a positive response from the fans.
They set a record for the highest attendance on the opening day for any franchise and had all 17 sold-out home games. While the team’s encouraging performance played its part in attracting the fans, its back office also played an essential role in shaping up the team and environment for the fans.
One striking name in this back office is Vanja Cernivec, vice president of basketball operations at the Valkyries. The former GM and head of Global Academy at London Lions led the European team to the 2023 and 2024 Women’s British Basketball League championships. However, as per reports from the Rose Garden Report, the experienced executive could be on the move with Portland Fire and is looking to add her as GM of the franchise.
Vanja Černivec, the Golden State Valkyries’ vice president of basketball operations, will be hired as the first general manager of the WNBA’s expansion Portland Fire. https://t.co/5sdtbbNTeT
— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) August 24, 2025
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The Slovenian international has 11 years of executive experience, spanning the NBA, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. She also served as an international scout with the Chicago Bulls for two seasons (2020-2022)
The Bay Area team enjoyed massive success in the 2025 season, commercially ranking amongst the top sides in the league. The franchise, along with the Indiana Fever and the New York Liberty, also contributed to the league’s record-setting footfall in the 2025 season. On the court, the side showed its potential and could be aiming for a historic season.
Golden State Valkyries Looking To End Their Inaugural Season On A High Note
With foreign players and mystery around the franchise’s formations, the 2025 expansion team was one of the bottom-placed teams at the start of the season for many analysts. But the players, looking to prove their worth, shocked the league with the number of wins and are on the verge of making history as the first expansion team to qualify for the playoffs.
Standing at eighth position, the San Francisco team is 0.5 games ahead of the ninth-placed Los Angeles Sparks and one win behind the seventh-seed Seattle Storm. Following their recent loss against the Mercury, the team is on a three-game losing streak and will be looking to collect some wins in the remaining eight games to play in the postseason in its very first season.