1986 NAIA women's basketball tournament

The 1986 NAIA women's basketball tournament was the sixth annual tournament held by the NAIA to determine the national champion of women's college basketball among its members in the United States and Canada.

Francis Marion defeated Wayland Baptist in the championship game, 75–65, to claim the Patriots' first NAIA national title.

The tournament was played in Kansas City, Missouri.

Qualification

See also: 1985–86 NAIA women's basketball season

The tournament field remained fixed at sixteen teams, with seeds assigned to the top eight teams.

The tournament utilized a simple single-elimination format, with an additional third-place game for the two teams that lost in the semifinals.

Bracket

	Round of 16					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					National championship
	1	Francis Marion	109
		Dominican (NY)	41
						1	Francis Marion	89
							Wingate	71
		Wingate	71
	8	Azusa Pacific	54
											1	Francis Marion	91
											5	Georgia Southwestern	77
	5	Georgia Southwestern	70
		Ouachita Baptist	66
						5	Georgia Southwestern	86
						4	Oklahoma Christian	78
		Wisconsin–Green Bay	48
	4	Oklahoma Christian	78
																1	Francis Marion	75
																3	Wayland Baptist	65
	3	Wayland Baptist	92
		Charleston (WV)	78
						3	Wayland Baptist	79
						6	Saginaw Valley	72
		Morningside	67
	6	Saginaw Valley	69
											3	Wayland Baptist	88
											2	Louisiana College	81
	7	Western Washington	72													National third place
		Cumberland	54
						7	Western Washington	75								5	Georgia Southwestern	78
						2	Louisiana College	83								2	Louisiana College	85
		Mount Marty	59
	2	Louisiana College	89

See also

• 1986 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament
• 1986 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament
• 1986 NCAA Division III women's basketball tournament
• 1986 NAIA men's basketball tournament