Report: WNBA’s Fire to add ex-sportswriter in front office role

Field Level Media|published: Mon 23rd February, 17:58 2026

WNBA: Playoffs-Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun

Sep 25, 2024; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; A general view of the WNBA ball during game two of the first round of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

Former basketball writer Ben Pickman is moving up from the journalism world into a WNBA front office role.

The expansion Portland Fire hired Pickman as a salary cap and strategy analyst, Front Office Sports reported Monday.

Pickman worked for Sports Illustrated from 2018-22 covering college and professional basketball before joining The Athletic as a women's basketball writer (WNBA and college).

He announced in January that he was stepping away from The Athletic. He said at the time that he had "more to come soon" but left his future open-ended.

The Fire are building out their front office in preparation for their first season back in the WNBA. Portland previously had a WNBA franchise called the Fire from 2000-02. Portland's general manager is Vanja Cernivec, who was previously in the front office when the Golden State Valkyries made their league debut in 2025.

--Field Level Media