New WNBA team makes embarrassing start by accidentally leaking head coach on LinkedIn

The Portland Fire have yet to officially announce their head coach, though they slipped up this week when they accidentally leaked his name on LinkedIn.

The Fire, a WNBA expansion team, will begin playing next spring when the 2025-26 season begins in May.

But they’ve seemingly settled on a head coach already, as they mistakenly posted on LinkedIn that they were hiring Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Alex Sarama.

The post, which was reportedly shared on the franchise’s official LinkedIn account on Tuesday, was quickly deleted.

Nonetheless, sources told Front Office Sports that while Sarama’s contract has not yet been finalized, he is expected to be named the team’s head coach.

The team’s name was also revealed in June – ahead of its official announcement – when it was seen in trademark filings.

Sarama (center) spent last season as an assistant with the Cleveland Cavaliers

Portland will welcome a WNBA team next season as the Fire begin playing

Portland previously had a WNBA team – also named the Fire – compete from 2000 to 2002.

Along with fellow expansion franchise the Toronto Tempo, the Fire will bring the WNBA to 15 total teams next season.

Sarama has extensive basketball experience in the men’s game, as he’s worked as a director of methodology for the London Lions, according to his own LinkedIn.

He then moved on to be an assistant coach and director of player development with the Rip City Remix – the G League affiliate of the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers.

From there, he jumped to the Cavs and joined the organization in July 2024.

The Cavs were the best regular season team in the Eastern Conference last year as they went 64-18.

Cleveland ultimately lost in the second round of the playoffs but are once again expected to be a strong outfit this season.

Sarama, if hired to the Fire, would join general manager Vanja Cernivec as part of the team’s leadership structure.