Georgetown women’s basketball coach Tasha Butts dies at 41

Georgetown women’s basketball coach Tasha Butts died following a battle with cancer.

Butts was diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer in 2021. She stepped away from coaching last month, and Georgetown shared the news on Monday that Butts has died. She was 41.

“I am heartbroken for Tasha’s family, friends, players, teammates and colleagues,” Georgetown athletic director Lee Reed said. “When I met Tasha, I knew she was a winner on the court, and an incredible person whose drive, passion and determination was second to none. She exhibited these qualities both as a leader and in her fight against breast cancer. This is a difficult time for the entire Georgetown community, and we will come together to honor her memory.”

Butts was hired as the head coach at Georgetown in April. She was an assistant coach for several programs before that, most recently Georgia Tech from 2019-2023. Butts also worked at LSU, UCLA and Duquesne.

Butts played at Tennessee from 2000-2004 under the late Pat Summitt. She was part of four regular-season SEC championship teams with the Vols and helped lead them to the national title game in 2003 and 2004.

Following her successful career at Tennessee, Butts was drafted by the Minnesota Lynx. She played for three different WNBA teams from 2004-2006.

Georgetown named assistant Darnell Haney interim head coach last month when Butts stepped away.