Khatuna Lorig, the defending champion from the Toronto Games four years previously, successfully qualified through the United States national team selection alongside newcomers Erin Mickelberry and 15-year-old Casey Kaufhold, with 2016 Summer Olympics competitor Mackenzie Brown as the reserve. Aída Román and Mariana Avitia, silver and bronze medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics, were selected alongside Alejandra Valencia to form the Mexican team, the trio entering as the three highest ranked archers competing in the Games, Valencia the highest at world number 10. The host nation's team of two archers included the reigning Peruvian national champion Aleska Burga García. The inclusion of Graziela Paulino dos Santos within the Brazilian team marked the first time an indigenous Brazilian athlete was selected to compete at the Pan American Games.