Eight teams qualified for the women's ice hockey tournament at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Teams ranked 13th and below were divided into two groups where they played in a first qualification round in September 2008.
In the second qualifying round, played in November 2008, the teams were again divided into two groups.
The two group winners China and Slovakia advanced to the Olympic Ice Hockey Tournament.
They were seeded according to their ranking, with the two group winners advancing to the final qualification tournaments.