1996 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament First and second rounds First and second rounds

| Region | Host_ | Venue | City | State_ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East | Old Dominion University | Old Dominion University Fieldhouse | Norfolk | Virginia |
| East | University of Virginia | University Hall (University of Virginia) | Charlottesville | Virginia |
| East | University of Tennessee | Thompson-Boling Arena | Knoxville | Tennessee |
| East | University of Kansas | Allen Field House | Lawrence | Kansas |
| Mideast | University of Iowa | Carver–Hawkeye Arena | Iowa City | Indiana |
| Mideast | University of Connecticut | Harry A. Gampel Pavilion | Storrs | Connecticut |
| Mideast | Vanderbilt University | Memorial Gymnasium (Vanderbilt University) | Nashville | Tennessee |
| Mideast | Duke University | Cameron Indoor Stadium | Durham | North Carolina |
| Midwest | University of Georgia | Georgia Coliseum (Stegeman Coliseum) | Athens | Georgia |
| Midwest | Louisiana Tech University | Thomas Assembly Center | Ruston | Louisiana |