First-year Georgetown women's basketball head coach Tasha Butts has passed away at age 41.

Georgetown University confirmed Butts' passing Oct. 23, following her two-year battle with breast cancer.

“I'm heartbroken for Tasha's family, friends, players, teammates and colleagues,” said Georgetown Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Lee Reed in a press release from the university. “(She was) 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.”

Butts started with Georgetown this past April after coaching at Georgia Tech, and a professional WNBA career. She started with Georgia Tech as assistant coach in 2019 and was promoted to assistant head coach in 2021. She guided Georgia Tech through back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament, most recently securing an at-large bid in 2021-22 — the same season she announced her diagnosis with advanced stage metastatic breast cancer.

Despite her diagnosis, Butts continued to coach during her treatments. Georgia Tech launched the “Tasha Tough” initiative during the 2022-2023 season to support cancer research and patient outreach through the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, a non-profit in honor of Hall of Fame coach Kay Yow.

“Tasha's passing is a devastating loss. She was extraordinary—Tasha was a person of character, determination, vision, and kindness. She will be deeply missed by our community and by so many people around the country who have been inspired by her life. We offer her family our most sincere condolences,” said Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia.

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Others from across the sports world also expressed their sympathy following the news Monday.

Louisiana State University, where Butts was an assistant coach for eight years from 2011 to 2019, tweeted out that the team was mourning her loss.

Georgia Tech head coach Nell Fortner mourned her passing, calling Tasha Butts' tenure with the team “instrumental” to its success.

“What she did as a member of this coaching staff cannot be overvalued,” Fortner said in a statement from Georgia Tech. “We are incredibly sad this day has come. She battled from the day of her diagnosis. We are proud of her fight to the end. We will forever love Tasha. She will forever be missed.”