The 1981 AIAW National Division I Basketball Championship was held on March 18–29, 1981.

First round games were played at on-campus locations.

Louisiana Tech University was crowned national champion at the conclusion of the tournament.

[5] The host site for the Final Four was Eugene, Oregon, and the championship game was again broadcast live on NBC.

This was the first year that the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics sponsored a competing women's basketball championship for its collegiate members and the last year before the NCAA began sponsoring tournaments for its three divisions and their members.