In a landmark appointment for British sport, 30-year-old Alex Sarama has been named the inaugural head coach of the WNBA's newest expansion team, the Portland Fire. The announcement on 28 October marks an extraordinary journey for the Englishman, who has risen from coaching youth teams in the UK to the top tier of professional women's basketball in the United States.
From British Skepticism to American Opportunity
Sarama's path was far from straightforward. In his early coaching days in Britain, his ambition was often met with immediate doubt. "There was a lot of skepticism," Sarama told the Guardian. "A lot of coaches heard the accent and they'd say straight away this Alex guy can't coach!" This early resistance, however, forged a relentless work ethic. He realised that respect on the court is earned through competence and results, not background. "The players just respect you if you're competent, if you make them better," he stated.
Growing up playing football and tennis in a nation where basketball was a niche sport, Sarama's passion for hoops was an anomaly. Yet, he believes the UK's underdeveloped basketball landscape ultimately provided unique opportunities. "I think because basketball in the UK is less developed, it actually awarded me more unique opportunities to accelerate my coaching career," he reflected. By age 15, he had already pivoted from aspiring player to dedicated coach, founding his own club, the Guildford Goldhawks. His success there, including a national championship with an under-14 girls' team, laid the foundation.
Building a Philosophy: From University Courts to the NBA
While studying history at the University of Nottingham, Sarama gained invaluable experience coaching players much older than himself—an opportunity he feels would have been unavailable in traditional basketball powerhouses. His meticulous approach and growing reputation eventually led him to the NBA's international offices, with posts in London, Madrid, and Antwerp. A move to the United States saw him work in player development with the G League's Rip City Remix and later with the Cleveland Cavaliers, honing the methods he now brings to Portland.
Sarama is a fervent believer in the untapped potential of British basketball, describing the country as a "sleeping giant." He advocates for a greater national focus on coaching education to unlock this potential. "One day I would love to be a part of that and really initiate some positive transformations," he said, expressing hope for the sport's future growth at home.
A New Blueprint for an Expansion Franchise
Taking the helm of an expansion team presents a monumental challenge, but Sarama is armed with a clear and innovative plan. He intends to implement a unified, documented system across the entire organisation, inspired by his book, Transforming Basketball. "We're going to have absolutely everything documented," he explained, detailing checklists for everything from building team culture and offensive schemes to conducting film sessions and managing timeouts.
A key tenet of his philosophy is holistic player development. "We're going to have every coach doing player development," Sarama said, noting that even strength coaches will be integrated into full basketball practices. He aims to blend the best ideas from leagues worldwide, guided by three core principles: courage, confidence, and humility.
As the Fire prepare for their debut season, one fixture already burns brightly on Sarama's calendar: the rivalry with the four-time champion Seattle Storm. "It's the game I'm most looking forward to," he admitted, anticipating a fiercely competitive and hyped encounter. For Alex Sarama, this unique opportunity to build a franchise from the ground up in a rapidly evolving WNBA is the culmination of a journey driven by proving doubters wrong and a profound love for the game.
