The 1996 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament took place from March 15–31, 1996.

[2] Thirty-three additional teams were selected to complete the sixty-four invitations.

Thirty-three additional at-large teams were selected from fourteen of the conferences.

In the first two rounds, the top four seeds were given the opportunity to host the first-round game.

[2] University Hall Charlottesville, VA University Hall Charlottesville, VA Allstate Arena Rosemont, IL Allstate Arena Rosemont, IL William R. Johnson Coliseum Nacogdoches, Texas William R. Johnson Coliseum Nacogdoches, Texas Alaska Airlines Arena Seattle, WA Alaska Airlines Arena Seattle, WA Sixteen conferences had more than one bid, or at least one win in NCAA Tournament play:[2] Fifteen conferences went 0-1: Big Sky Conference, Big South Conference, Big West Conference, Ivy League, MAAC, Mid-Continent, MEAC, Midwestern Collegiate, Missouri Valley Conference, North Atlantic Conference, Northeast Conference, Patriot League, Southern Conference, SWAC, and Trans America[2] This was the first year the NCAA used three officials in tournament games, which was the standard for men's games since the 1978-79 season.