WNBA Team Hires Reporter From Athletic for Front Office Role

February 23, 2026

Another reporter has joined the basketball executive ranks.

The Portland Fire have hired Ben Pickman, who previously covered the league for The Athletic, to its front office. The Fire are one of two WNBA expansion teams that will begin play this year.

Pickman will be a salary cap and strategy analyst for Fire GM Vanja Černivec, whom the team hired away from the Golden State Valkyries.

A spokesperson for the Fire declined to comment. The New York Times, the parent company of The Athletic, also declined to comment. Pickman announced in a tweet on Jan. 15 that he was leaving The Athletic but did not comment otherwise on the move. FRONT OFFICE SPORTS