The defending champions are Brazil, who won the title on home court.

[1] The winner of the competition will qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Great Britain.

[2] A National Olympic Committee may enter one women's team for the handball competition.

Final squads for the tournament were due on September 14, 2011, a month before the start of 2011 Pan American Games.

[5] The pots are based on the performance of national teams in both previous games and their standings in their respective regional competitions.