The Portland Fire are busy at work.

Mere hours after posting (and hastily deleting) an announcement of new head coach Alex Sarama, the expansion franchise posted another hiring announcement: Ashley Battle will serve as the team’s Vice President of Basketball Operations, Strategy, and Innovation. 

In a press release, the team explains that Battle will “oversee basketball operations, including roster construction and talent identification, while implementing innovative strategies across player performance and analytics”, working directly under Fire general manager Vanja Černivec.

“It’s exciting to be part of a franchise that’s reimagining what player development and team culture can look like,” said Battle. “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.”

Battle, an AAU teammate of Diana Taurasi, committed to UConn in 2000. She helped bring three consecutive national championships (2002-04) back to Storrs, won the Big East Defensive Player of the Year award in 2003, and began her professional career as a 2nd round pick of the Seattle Storm in 2005. 

In The W, Battle was known for her cagey defense and passion off the bench. She played six seasons with the Storm (2005), the New York Liberty (2006-09), and the San Antonio Silver Stars (2010). 

After retiring, Battle transitioned into a successful front-office career. She scouted for the Boston Celtics, and most recently served as the Assistant General Manager of the Celtics G-League affiliate Maine Celtics since 2023. 

“Ashley’s multi-dimensional experience uniquely positions her to help the Portland Fire build a modern, holistic women’s basketball organization,” stressed Fire GM Vanja Černivec in the team’s official press release announcing Battle’s hire. “Her insight as a former player will be especially invaluable from day one as we shape the future of this team.”