The 1987 World Women's Hockey Tournament was held April 21–26, 1987, in North York, Toronto, Ontario.

The Ontario Women's Hockey Association (OWHA) hosted the tournament and director Fran Rider is credited as the driving force behind the event's success.

Delegates from the participating nations and five additional countries met during the tournament to establish a strategy to lobby the International Ice Hockey Federation for the creation of a Women's World Championship.

West Germany was scheduled to participate but pulled out shortly before the tournament, possibly due to displeasure with the choice to not allow body checking.

The Swedish team was able to travel to and participate in the tournament because of the sponsorship of Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman, Börje Salming.