Looks like the NBA flavor in the WNBA isn’t fading anytime soon. Over the past few years, we’ve seen a steady wave of coaches with NBA experience making their mark in the league — from Becky Hammon leading the Las Vegas Aces to three titles in four years, to Nate Tibbetts taking over in Phoenix, and Tyler Marsh bringing his NBA pedigree to Chicago. And now, that list just got a new addition. Alex Sarama.

The 2026 WNBA season is set to usher in a new era, with two new teams set to join the league as part of its long-term plan to expand to 18 franchises by 2030. But even as the league faces uncertainty about its immediate future, one of those incoming teams may have just jumped the gun. Earlier tonight, Portland Fire accidentally revealed its new head coach in a LinkedIn post — a post that was quickly deleted. Still, the cat’s out of the bag, and an official announcement is reportedly just around the corner.

According to Front Office Sports’ Annie Costabile, the Portland Fire are set to name Alex Sarama,  currently serving as the Director of Player Development for the Cleveland Cavaliers,  as their first-ever head coach.

This article dives into everything you need to know about him– from his roots to his rise in the basketball world.

Alex Sarama’s Early Life and Coaching Origins

While his exact date of birth remains unknown, Alex Sarama was born and raised in Guildford — a small town just outside London in Surrey, England. His love for basketball began around the age of 11 after attending a Guildford Heat professional game, marking his shift from sports like soccer and tennis to the hardwood.

“Growing up in England, a town called Guildford, a pretty small town outside London. Basketball isn’t a big sport in the UK, but the local pro team in the town, called the Guildford Heat, were the biggest club in England at the time. And so I just, I went to a game and absolutely loved it. I was playing soccer and tennis, and then as soon as I saw them play and I started, you know, doing sessions at my school, I knew that, you know, basketball was the sport I wanted to, to pursue,” he said on the Hoopshead podcast.

Alex Sarama began coaching basketball at the age of 14 and founded the Guildford Goldhawks club. He continued to run the Goldhawks during his time studying history at the University of Nottingham, where he also coached with the school’s basketball team.

Alex Sarama’s Professional Coaching & Development Career

Upon graduation, he was immediately hired by the NBA Europe as Associate Manager of International Basketball Operations, based initially in London and later relocated to Madrid, Spain. This role involved growing the game across more than 30 countries through programs like Jr. NBA and Basketball Without Borders, delivering clinics with NBA stars like Pau Gasol, Ricky Rubio, Nikola Jokic, Jonas Valanciunas, and many others.

After his tenure with NBA Europe, Sarama moved into hands-on coaching roles across Europe. In the 2019-20 season, he served as Technical Director at Elite Academy in Antwerp, Belgium, overseeing player development programs and introducing innovative training methodologies. For the 2020-21 season, he joined Pallacanestro College Basket in Borgomanero, Italy, as head coach, continuing his focus on youth development.

“I think I’ve taken a lot of ideas from Italy. I’ve got some very, very close Italian friends I speak with. I probably speak with coaches in Italy more than any other country in Europe. And I just love how they teach the game. I mean, I have a pretty romantic view of Italy,” he said, reflecting on his coaching experience in Italy.

Sarama joined the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2024-25 NBA season as Director of Player Development under head coach Kenny Atkinson, later being promoted to Assistant Coach, according to his LinkedIn profile. His work contributed to the Cavaliers’ impressive 64-win season and secured the number 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Before Cleveland, Sarama served as Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development for the Rip City Remix, the G League affiliate of the Portland Trail Blazers, where he refined his player development strategies.

Alex Sarama’s Coaching Philosophy & Methodology

To understand what the Portland Fire are gaining from their new coach in terms of philosophy, we need only look at his own book. Transforming Basketball: Changing How We Think About Basketball Performance (2024) encapsulates Sarama’s revolutionary coaching mindset, emphasizing the Constraint-Led Approach (CLA) and Ecological Dynamics as modern alternatives to outdated, drill-heavy training methods.

Sarama focuses on manipulating the environmental constraints during his training sessions through adjustments in space, rules, and tasks–using small-sided, game-like activities to nurture adaptive decision-making, creativity, and emergent skills, instead of leaning on rote drills. His player-first philosophy values enjoyment, resilience, and real-game applicability, transforming ordinary practices into dynamic, evidence-based sessions that develop smarter, more versatile athletes at all levels.

“And I think we’re seeing a good shift, especially over the last two years, with coaches moving away from the old platform drills—things done in the air, not playing against defenders. I think people are definitely taking in more of a game-sense approach now. And for me, that’s really important because, simply, if you’re not creating opportunities in your practice for players to make decisions, then you’re not going to see that transfer to the game,” he said about the change in coaching patterns and why it’s important for others to change with time as well.

Alex Sarama’s Notable Achievements & Contributions

From a small town in the UK to delivering clinics for stars like Pau Gasol, Ricky Rubio, Nikola Jokic, Jonas Valanciunas, and many others across more than 40 countries, Alex Sarama’s journey is remarkable. His book has become a bible for new-age coaches, and he played a key role in the Cavaliers’ 64-win season in 2024-25. More such achievements on the way!

What Might the Portland Fire Hire Mean?

While Sarama’s move to the Portland Fire hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, it’s only a matter of time. With a young and innovative coach like him, the franchise could develop some of the league’s best players. That said, this will be Sarama’s first head coaching job in the big leagues, so it’s wise to keep expectations realistic. We saw how Coach Marsh struggled in his first season leading the Chicago Sky, and Sarama could face a similar learning curve. Only time will tell how he handles the pressure and meets expectations.

That said, these are exciting times for the Portland Fire–they have a coach with prior experience in Portland, and he’s set to be a fan favorite heading into their debut season. Plus, Alex Sarama and Portland Fire GM Vanja Cernivec have worked together before with the London Lions, adding an extra layer of familiarity to the team’s leadership.