| Type: | NAIA |
| Year: | 1981 |
| Gender: | Women's |
| Teams: | 8 |
| Fabfourcity: | Kansas City, Missouri |
| Champions: | Kentucky State |
| Titlecount: | 1st |
| Champgamecount: | 1st |
| Champffcount: | 1st |
| Runnerup: | Texas Southern |
| Gamecount: | 1st |
| Runnerffcount: | 1st |
| Semifinal1: | Northern State |
| Fabfourcount1: | 1st |
| Semifinal2: | Azusa Pacific |
| Fabfourcount2: | 1st |
| Mvp: | Carolyn Walker |
| Mvpteam: | Kentucky State |
| Topscorer: | Nerissa Redo |
| Topscorerteam: | Texas Southern |
| Points: | 59 |
The 1981 NAIA women's basketball tournament was the inaugural tournament held by the NAIA to determine the national champion of women's college basketball among its members in the United States and Canada.
Kentucky State defeated Texas Southern in the championship game, 73–67, to claim the Thorobrettes' first NAIA national title.
The tournament was played in Kansas City, Missouri.[1]
The inaugural tournament field was set at eight teams. All teams were seeded.
The tournament utilized a simple single-elimination format, with an additional third-place game for the two semifinal losers.
| Qualified Teams | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School | Appearance | Last Bid | ||
| Azusa Pacific | 1st | Never | ||
| Berry | 1st | Never | ||
| Kentucky State | 1st | Never | ||
| Missouri Western | 1st | Never | ||
| Northern State | 1st | Never | ||
| Saginaw Valley State | 1st | Never | ||
| Texas Southern | 1st | Never | ||
| Virginia State | 1st | Never | ||