| Gender: | Women's |
| Year: | 1996 |
| Division: | II |
| Teams: | 48 |
| Finalfourcity: | Fargo, North Dakota |
| Champions: | North Dakota State Bison |
| Titlecount: | 5th |
| Runnerup: | Shippensburg Raiders |
| Gamecount: | 1st |
| Thirdplace: | Abilene Christian Wildcats |
| Finalfourcount: | 1st |
| Fourthplace: | Delta State Lady Statesmen |
| Finalfourcount2: | 7th |
| Coach: | Amy Ruley |
| Coachcount: | 5th |
| Mop: | Kasey Morlock |
| Mopteam: | North Dakota State |
The 1996 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament was the 15th annual tournament hosted by the NCAA to determine the national champion of Division II women's collegiate basketball in the United States.[1]
Three-time defending champions North Dakota State defeated Shippensburg in the championship game, 104–78, to claim the Bison's fifth NCAA Division II national title. This was North Dakota State's fifth title in six years and fourth of four consecutive titles for the Bison.
The championship rounds were contested in Fargo, North Dakota.
Location: Heiges Field House Host: Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Location: Knights Hall Host: Bellarmine College
Location: Bison Sports Arena Host: North Dakota State University
Location: Dana Center Host: Bentley College
Location: Walter Sillers Coliseum Host: Delta State University
Location: Cuddy Arena Host: Wingate College
Location: Moody Coliseum Host: Abilene Christian University
Location: Recreation Hall Host: University of California, Davis
Location: Bison Sports Arena Host: North Dakota State University