The United States' Lindsay Davenport defeated Spain's Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in the final, 7–6(10–8), 6–2 to win the gold medal in Women's Singles tennis at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

In the bronze-medal match, the Czech Republic's Jana Novotná defeated the United States' Mary Joe Fernández, 7–6(10–8), 6–4.

The tournament was held from 23 July to 2 August at the Stone Mountain Tennis Center, in Atlanta, Georgia of the United States of America.

[1] Returning from the 1992 Games were both bronze medalists, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario of Spain and Mary Joe Fernández of the United States, as well as all four of the quarterfinal losers.

The U.S. team was strong even without defending champion Jennifer Capriati, with #1 seed Monica Seles, Fernandez, and Lindsay Davenport.