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Portland Fire Reportedly Hire Ben Pickman for Salary-Cap Strategy Role

The WNBA expansion club is tapping journalism-born CBA expertise to accelerate roster and cap planning.

Overview

  • Front Office Sports first reported the move, which was subsequently cited by other outlets.
  • Pickman will work as a salary cap and strategy analyst under general manager Vanja Černivec, who was hired from the Golden State Valkyries.
  • The Fire are one of two WNBA expansion teams scheduled to begin play this season.
  • Pickman previously spent three years at The Athletic and four at Sports Illustrated, and he announced his Athletic departure on Jan. 15.
  • A spokesperson for the Fire and The New York Times, owner of The Athletic, declined to comment, and the move fits a growing pipeline of journalists entering front-office roles such as those held by Cristina Daglas, Lee Jenkins, John Hollinger, Grant Liffman, and Kirk Goldsberry.