Believe it or not, significant news regarding one of the WNBA’s expansion teams was leaked on LinkedIn this week.
The WNBA will expand to 15 teams next season with the emergence of the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo. The league will eventually take on teams in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia by 2030.
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Although an official announcement hasn’t been made yet, Portland’s head coaching hire was mistakenly shared on its LinkedIn account. It turns out Alex Sarama will be the first head coach in franchise history.
Sarama is currently listed as an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was previously the director of player development for the G League affiliate of the Portland Trail Blazers, the Rip City Remix.
According to Front Office Sports, the Fire are expected to make the hiring of Sarama official in the near future.
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Apr 14, 2025; New York, New York, USA; WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert talks to the media before the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images© Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The Fire have not yet commented on this messy situation. The team’s president, Clare Hamill, previously said she’s thrilled about the WNBA coming to Portland.
“As a city that has long championed women’s sports, Portland is ready to reclaim its place in the WNBA and reignite its connection to the game on the world stage,” Hill said, via CBS Sports. “We are thrilled to complete the journey of bringing professional women’s basketball back to the Rose City, while honoring the legacy of the original franchise to blaze a new, bold path forward.”
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The inaugural schedule for the Portland Fire has not yet been released.
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Oct 16, 2025, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
