Former UConn women’s basketball star Ashley Battle was named Vice President of Basketball Operations, Strategy and Innovation for the Portland Fire, who will begin play as an expansion franchise in the WNBA next season.
Battle, who won the Big East Defensive Player of the Year award in 2003, was a three-time national champion at UConn, and a key cog in the Huskies’ early 2000s teams with Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird.
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The 43-year-old joins the Fire after serving as Assistant General Manager for the Maine Celtics, the NBA G League affiliate of the Boston Celtics, and as a scout for the Boston Celtics. She also recently served as a color commentator for Connecticut Sun games on NBC Sports Boston.
In her new role, Portland said Battle will oversee basketball operations, including roster construction and talent identification, while “implementing innovative strategies across player performance and analytics.”
“It’s exciting to be part of a franchise that’s reimagining what player development and team culture can look like,” Battle said in a release. “Having been in the players’ shoes, I know how powerful it is when an organization invests in every aspect of an athlete’s growth. The Fire is building something special, and I’m proud to now be contributing to that vision.”
“Ashley’s multi-dimensional experience uniquely positions her to help the Portland Fire build a modern, holistic women’s basketball organization,” said Portland general manager Vanja Černivec. “Her insight as a former player will be especially invaluable from day one as we shape the future of this team.”
The Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo will join the WNBA next season, with Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029) and Philadelphia (2030) also set to begin play in the coming years.
