The Portland Hearth introduced on Tuesday that they’ve named Ashley Battle as Vice President of Basketball Operations, Technique, and Innovation.
She is going to oversee basketball operations, together with constructing the Hearth’s roster and discovering expertise, whereas making use of modern methods throughout participant efficiency and analytics.
“It’s thrilling to be a part of a franchise that’s reimagining what participant improvement and group tradition can appear like,” Battle stated in a press launch. “Having been within the gamers’ sneakers, I understand how highly effective it’s when a corporation invests in each side of an athlete’s progress. The Hearth is constructing one thing particular, and I’m proud to now be contributing to that imaginative and prescient.”
Battle spent the final 4 years with the Boston Celtics as a scout, throughout which the group received the 2024 NBA Championship. She additionally served as an assistant normal supervisor for the NBA G League group, the Maine Celtics.
“I’m trying ahead in coming again into the W and to a corporation that prioritizes innovation and the expansion of girls’s sports activities,” Battle instructed Ballislife.com.
She additionally supplied coloration commentary for Connecticut Solar and New York Liberty video games, sharing her insights and experience throughout broadcasts.
Battle’s Enjoying Profession and WNBA Journey
All through her collegiate profession, Battle was a part of the UConn Huskies dynasty that received three consecutive championships from 2002 to 2004, enjoying alongside legends akin to Sue Chook and Diana Taurasi.
At Storrs, Conn., Battle dominated on the defensive finish, incomes Large East Defensive Participant of the Yr honors as a junior.
Battle was chosen No. 25 general within the 2005 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm and performed six seasons with three groups. After her enjoying profession, she held roles with Nike, the NBA, the WNBA, and Barnum Monetary Group. The previous UConn star earned an MBA in sports activities administration from Drexel College in 2013.
In August, the Hearth employed Vanja Černivec because the group’s normal supervisor. She beforehand served as VP of Basketball Operations for the Valkyries. In her new position, Battle will report on to Černivec.
“Ashley’s multi-dimensional expertise uniquely positions her to assist the Portland Hearth construct a contemporary, holistic ladies’s basketball group,” Černivec stated. “Her perception as a former participant will likely be particularly invaluable from day one as we form the way forward for this group.”
Portland Hearth Strengthens Entrance Workplace with Battle, Černivec
Throughout the 2025 season, the Golden State Valkyries established themselves as a mannequin growth group, securing a playoff spot and setting a brand new document for many wins by an growth group in its first season.
Earlier than Recreation 1 of the 2025 WNBA Finals, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert instructed reporters that the growth drafts for the Portland Hearth and Toronto Tempo won’t happen till CBA negotiations are full.
The Valkyries’ growth draft passed off in early December of final 12 months, simply two months earlier than free company started.
As Portland shifts focus to hiring its first head coach in franchise historical past, the additions of Battle and Černivec are anticipated to strengthen the entrance workplace and assist choose the fitting gamers to construct the group’s tradition.
Extra importantly, with Battle’s imaginative and prescient for girls’s basketball and her enterprise expertise within the NBA, Portland’s entrance workplace is in good arms!
