1996 US Open – Women's singles

Defending champion Steffi Graf defeated Monica Seles in a rematch of the previous year's final, 7–5, 6–4 to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1996 US Open. Graf did not lose a set during the tournament.

This was the final major appearance for 1990 champion Gabriela Sabatini. It was also the final major singles appearance for 15-time major quarterfinalist and former world No. 4 Zina Garrison.

Seeds
The seeded players are listed below. Steffi Graf is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated. • 🇩🇪 Steffi Graf (champion)

• 🇺🇸 Monica Seles (final)

• 🇪🇸 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (fourth round)

• 🇪🇸 Conchita Martínez (semifinals)

• Iva Majoli (first round)

• 🇩🇪 Anke Huber (first round)

• 🇨🇿 Jana Novotná (quarterfinals)

• 🇺🇸 Lindsay Davenport (fourth round)

• 🇺🇸 Mary Joe Fernández (withdrew due to wrist injury)

• 🇯🇵 Kimiko Date (first round)

• 🇺🇸 Chanda Rubin (withdrew due to wrist injury)

• 🇧🇬 Magdalena Maleeva (first round)

•  Brenda Schultz-McCarthy (second round)

• 🇦🇹 Barbara Paulus (third round)

• 🇦🇷 Gabriela Sabatini (third round)

•  Martina Hingis (semifinals)

• 🇸🇰 Karina Habšudová (fourth round)

Chanda Rubin pulled out before the tournament began and her position in the draw was taken over by seventeenth-seeded Karina Habšudová, Rubin was replaced by lucky loser Annabel Ellwood; Mary Joe Fernández, who withdrew on the first day of the tournament, was replaced by lucky loser Tina Križan.