2021 BNP Paribas Open – Women's singles

Paula Badosa defeated Victoria Azarenka in the final, 7–6(7–5), 2–6, 7–6(7–2) to win the women's singles tennis title at the 2021 Indian Wells Masters. At three hours and four minutes, the final was the longest-ever Indian Wells women's final. Badosa became the first Spanish woman to win the title. This was her first WTA 1000 title and second career WTA Tour singles title. Azarenka was aiming to become the first woman to win the title three times.

Bianca Andreescu was the defending champion from when the tournament was last held in 2019, but lost in the third round to Anett Kontaveit. Two-time former champion Kim Clijsters made her return to the event for the first time since 2011; she lost in the first round to Kateřina Siniaková. Lucky loser Beatriz Haddad Maia became the first Brazilian woman to defeat a player ranked in the world's top three by defeating world No. 3 and top seed Karolína Plíšková in the third round. By reaching the semifinals, Ons Jabeur became the first Arab player to enter the top 10 of the world rankings.

Seeds
All seeds receive a bye into the second round. • 🇨🇿 Karolína Plíšková (third round)

• 🇵🇱 Iga Świątek (fourth round)

• 🇨🇿 Barbora Krejčíková (fourth round)

• 🇺🇦 Elina Svitolina (fourth round)

• 🇪🇸 Garbiñe Muguruza (second round)

• Maria Sakkari (second round)

• 🇨🇿 Petra Kvitová (third round)

•  Belinda Bencic (withdrew)

• 🇷🇺 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (third round)

• 🇩🇪 Angelique Kerber (quarterfinals)

• 🇷🇴 Simona Halep (third round)

• 🇹🇳 Ons Jabeur (semifinals)

• 🇰🇿 Elena Rybakina (second round)

• 🇧🇪 Elise Mertens (second round)

• 🇺🇸 Coco Gauff (third round)

• 🇨🇦 Bianca Andreescu (third round)

• 🇬🇧 Emma Raducanu (second round)

• 🇪🇪 Anett Kontaveit (quarterfinals)

• 🇺🇸 Jessica Pegula (quarterfinals)

• 🇷🇺 Daria Kasatkina (third round)

• 🇪🇸 Paula Badosa (champion)

• 🇺🇸 Danielle Collins (third round)

• 🇨🇦 Leylah Fernandez (fourth round)

•  Jeļena Ostapenko (semifinals)

• 🇷🇺 Veronika Kudermetova (third round)

•  Tamara Zidanšek (third round)

• 🇧🇾 Victoria Azarenka (final)

• 🇪🇸 Sara Sorribes Tormo (second round)

• 🇦🇷 Nadia Podoroska (withdrew)

• 🇮🇹 Camila Giorgi (second round)

•  Jil Teichmann (second round)

• 🇷🇴 Sorana Cîrstea (third round)

Seeds
• # 🇮🇹 Jasmine Paolini (qualifying competition, lucky loser)

• # 🇮🇹 Martina Trevisan (qualified)

• # 🇷🇴 Elena-Gabriela Ruse (qualified)

• # 🇦🇺 Astra Sharma (qualified)

• # 🇵🇱 Magdalena Fręch (qualified)

• # 🇰🇿 Zarina Diyas (qualified)

• # 🇸🇰 Kristína Kučová (qualifying competition, lucky loser)

• # 🇧🇬 Viktoriya Tomova (first round, retired)

• # 🇧🇷 Beatriz Haddad Maia (qualifying competition, lucky loser)

• # 🇨🇳 Wang Xinyu (first round)

• # 🇦🇺 Maddison Inglis (qualifying competition)

• # 🇧🇪 Kirsten Flipkens (qualified)

• # 🇧🇾 Olga Govortsova (qualifying competition)

• # 🇭🇺 Panna Udvardy (first round)

• # 🇺🇦 Kateryna Kozlova (qualified)

• # 🇺🇸 CoCo Vandeweghe (first round)

• # Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove (qualifying competition)

• # 🇦🇺 Arina Rodionova (first round)

• # 🇷🇺 Anna Kalinskaya (qualified)

• # 🇬🇧 Katie Boulter (first round)

• # 🇨🇦 Rebecca Marino (qualifying competition)

• # 🇺🇸 Grace Min (first round)

• # 🇵🇱 Katarzyna Kawa (qualifying competition)

• # Leonie Küng (first round)

Qualifiers
• # 🇺🇦 Kateryna Kozlova

• # 🇮🇹 Martina Trevisan

• # 🇷🇴 Elena-Gabriela Ruse

• # 🇦🇺 Astra Sharma

• # 🇵🇱 Magdalena Fręch

• # 🇰🇿 Zarina Diyas

• # 🇯🇵 Mai Hontama

• # 🇷🇺 Anna Kalinskaya

• # 🇺🇸 Usue Maitane Arconada

• # Liang En-shuo

• # 🇺🇸 Alycia Parks

• # 🇧🇪 Kirsten Flipkens

Lucky losers
• # 🇮🇹 Jasmine Paolini

• # 🇸🇰 Kristína Kučová

• # 🇧🇷 Beatriz Haddad Maia