[2] Na Yeon Choi won her first major championship, four strokes ahead of runner-up Amy Yang.
Blackwolf Run previously hosted the U.S. Women's Open in 1998 with Se Ri Pak beating amateur Jenny Chuasiriporn in a Monday playoff that went to 20 holes.
The championship was open to any female professional or amateur golfer with a USGA handicap index not exceeding 4.4.
Winners of the U.S. Women's Open for the last ten years (2002–2011) Juli Inkster (9), Paula Creamer (9,13), Eun-Hee Ji (9), Cristie Kerr (5,8,9,13), Birdie Kim, Inbee Park (8,9), So Yeon Ryu (9,10,11,12,13) Exempt but did not enter tournament: Hilary Lunke, Meg Mallon, Annika Sörenstam 2.
Winners of the Ricoh Women's British Open for the last five years (2007–2011) Catriona Matthew (9,11,13), Jiyai Shin (8,9,10) (withdrew because of injury)[9] Exempt but did not enter tournament: Lorena Ochoa (7) 7.
Winners of the Kraft Nabisco Championship for the last five years (2008–2012) Stacy Lewis (9,10,11,13), Brittany Lincicome (9,11,13), Sun-Young Yoo (9,10,11,13) 8.
Top 70 money leaders from the 2011 final official LPGA money list Kyeong Bae, Amanda Blumenherst, Christel Boeljon, Chella Choi, Na Yeon Choi (10,11,13), Shanshan Feng (5,10,11,13), Katie Futcher, Sandra Gal, Julieta Granada, Natalie Gulbis, Sophie Gustafson, Hee-Won Han, Mina Harigae, Caroline Hedwall (12,13), Maria Hjorth, Katherine Hull, Amy Hung, Pat Hurst, Vicky Hurst, Tiffany Joh, Jennifer Johnson, Jimin Kang, Christina Kim, Mindy Kim, Song-Hee Kim (withdrew)[10] Candie Kung, Cindy LaCrosse, Brittany Lang (11), Meena Lee, Paige Mackenzie, Kristy McPherson, Becky Morgan, Belen Mozo, Azahara Muñoz (10,11), Se Ri Pak, Hee Young Park (11), Suzann Pettersen (11,13), Gerina Piller, Pornanong Phatlum, Stacy Prammanasudh, Morgan Pressel (13), Beatriz Recari, Dewi Claire Schreefel, Jenny Shin, Karen Stupples, Momoko Ueda (11), Wendy Ward, Michelle Wie (13) Exempt but did not enter tournament: Mi Hyun Kim, Heather Bowie Young 10.
Top 25 point leaders from the current Rolex Rankings and anyone tying for 25th place as of July 2, 2012 Jeon Mi-jeong (declined to participate in tournament) 15.
Park (+10), Khang (+11), Perry (+11), Shon (+11), Jutanugarn (+13), Keel (+15), Lopez (+15), Weaver (+16), Aubert (+17), Meadow (+17), Armstrong (+18), Meier (+20), A.