Golden State Valkyries hire Vanja Cernivec as VP of basketball operations

The Golden State Valkyries have made a front-office hire just as the WNBA approaches the midpoint of its last season without the expansion team.

Vanja Cernivec has been hired as the Valkyries’ vice president of basketball operations, the team announced Monday. She will report to general manager Ohemaa Nyanin and assist her as they work to hire a scouting staff and identify players to target in two drafts and free agency before beginning play in 2025.

Cernivec is new to the WNBA. The Slovenian coach comes from a two-year stint in the Women’s British Basketball League as GM of the back-to-back champions, the London Lions. Much of Cernivec’s approach with the Lions came from developing the pipelines of the organization. Under her leadership, they reached the EuroCup Women's Final, becoming the first British team to reach the final stage of a European women’s basketball tournament.

The team’s success once Cernivec arrived aligns with the type of quick ascent to the top of the WNBA that owner Joe Lacob desires for his team. Given her history in Europe, along with Nyanin’s international experience, it’s reasonable to think the Valkyries might look overseas to find players. Cernivec talked often in England about how overlooked some British players were and her desire to develop more grassroots opportunities for girls in Europe.

“We’re looking in the states and internationally,” Cernivec told the Chronicle. “We’re still waiting for exact information from the league (on expansion draft dates and salary cap) but I don’t think our approach is going to be much different from other teams in their offseasons.”




https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/wnba-s-golden-state-valkyries-hire-vanja-19566493.php