🏆 Portland Roots, Pro Hoops: Building the Rip City Remix from the Ground Up

Hannah Grauert is the President of the Rip City Remix, the NBA G League affiliate of the Portland Trail Blazers, where she oversees all aspects of business operations and community engagement. A Portland native and Oregon State graduate, Hannah’s career began with the Trail Blazers, where she spent a decade working her way up from game-night staff to community relations. Along the way, she gained a reputation for bridging departments and building culture across ticketing, premium service, and sales. After stops at Microsoft and Nike, where she helped launch the Game Growers initiative connecting NBA and WNBA teams with young girls in sport, Hannah returned home to lead the launch of Portland’s G League franchise in 2023. Now heading into her third season, she is driven by two things: family and development, both within her team and across the broader sports community.

Staying Close to Home

Hannah’s sports story starts at home. “I was born and raised in Portland,” she says. “My dad was my coach, best friend, and mentor growing up and still is today.” Saturday trips to Oregon State football lit the path. “It opened my eyes – like, oh my gosh, people actually get to work in sports. From that moment, I knew I wanted to help create those same experiences for other families.”

At Oregon State, she studied athletic administration and sports marketing and chased every real-world rep she could get. “While I was still at Oregon State, I worked part-time game nights for the Trail Blazers — driving up I-5 for every game, working for very little pay, then driving right back down. It sounds small on paper, but it was the foundation of everything.” Those nights were the foundation. “I showed up early, stayed until everything was done, and made the most of every moment. It might have seemed small on paper, but it felt big to me.”

Building Up by Starting Small

After graduation she took a part-time receptionist role with the Blazers and nannied on the side. “It wasn’t the dream job – but it was the right organization, and I knew that mattered more.” The roles stacked: ticket operations to premium service to group sales to community. The key throughline was connection. “Every department I worked in taught me something new. I learned how the pieces connect – the pain points, the priorities – and how important it is to bridge those gaps between teams.”

Ten years into a career she loved, Hannah chose growth. “I decided to take a leap of faith and move up to Seattle,” she says. A year at Microsoft taught her a lot but home called. Back in Portland, she took a six-week temp admin role at Nike. “Being an admin, that’s like the keys to the organization,” she says. She converted to full time in procurement, then moved into North America social and community impact where she helped run Game Growers with NBA and WNBA teams, and later into North America consumer direct marketing focused on web, app, and email. The lesson: “Make the best of no matter what your opportunity is on paper. You don’t know what it will lead to.”

A Full-Circle Return to Basketball

After maternity leave, a check-in with a former Blazers boss changed everything. “I miss it – I miss the pace, the people, the nitty-gritty of working in sports.” she told them. An opportunity followed before Portland’s G League team was even public. “I had a six-month-old baby at home, and I thought – why not launch a G League team? Let’s do it.” She started in 2023leading business operations and is now heading into season three. “It’s been an absolute blast. I feel like I’m right where I’m meant to be — back home, building something special.” How she leads: trust, consistency, and real mentorship

“What separates great people I’ve worked with is trust,” Hannah says. “The best people I’ve worked with all share one thing – trust. It starts with investing in people, getting to know them, and building the kind of relationship where you can have honest conversations.” Reliability matters. “Anyone can grab a coffee once, but real mentorship comes from consistency. The people who show up, check in, and stay invested – those are the ones who make the difference.”

Confidence Over Noise

If she could talk to her younger self: “I wish I’d had more confidence earlier on. Your voice matters, and your perspective is valuable – even if you’re not the loudest person in the room.” She pushes back on a common trope. “Being the loudest voice in the room isn’t the goal. It’s about influencing along the way – leading through consistency, not volume.”

For people looking to work in sports she recommends “embracing the hard times and the chaos.” “The hard moments shape you in ways success never will. Keep a positive outlook, learn from the challenges, and try to have fun through it all.”

Her Purpose

Motherhood deepened her purpose.“Now that I’m a mom, my perspective has deepened. Willa is my number one ‘why’ – she’s the reason I want to lead well and set an example of hard work and joy.” The G League’s mission is the other. “The G League is all about development – on and off the court. For many on my team, this is their first job in sports, and I take a lot of pride in helping shape their experiences and confidence.”

Get ready to take your next step in sports.

🗓️ October 22, 2025 (TOMORROW)
⏰ 1 PM PST | 4 PM EST

Join Dr. Daniel Rascher, Academic Director of USF’s Master’s in Sport Management Program, for an exclusive Executive Discussion on breaking into and thriving in the business of sports.

Take this opportunity to hear real-world insights from one of the industry’s top minds in sports economics and discover what sets USF grads apart across teams, leagues, and agencies nationwide.

➡️ Spots are limited RSVP now to save your seat before it fills up‼️