The 2016–17 Northwestern Wildcats women's basketball team represented Northwestern University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Wildcats, led by ninth-year head coach Joe McKeown, played their home games at the Welsh-Ryan Arena as members of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 20–11, 8–8 in Big Ten play to finish in a tie for eighth place. They defeated Iowa in the second round of the before losing to Ohio State. Despite having 20 wins, they were not invited to a postseason tournament first time since 2013.