By reaching a top-6 position in the 2016 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship, the following five teams had enough points to secure a top-5 position in the new World Ranking and thus earn their tickets for PyeongChang 2018: USA, Canada, Finland, Russia and Sweden. Also host Korea is set for the Olympics.

Sweden and Russia overtook Switzerland, which dropped from fourth to sixth place in the new World Ranking after missing out on a playoff-round spot and having to play in the relegation round.

Japan, which was relegated, reached seventh place in the World Ranking and thus earned the right to host one of the two Final Olympic Qualification tournaments as did the Swiss. The Women’s World Ranking is based on the results of the Olympics and Women’s World Championships played between 2013 and 2016.

Olympic Winter Games, Women’s Ice Hockey Tournament (9-25 February 2018) 
Group A: USA (1), Canada (2), Finland (3), Russia (4) 
Group B: Sweden (5), Qualifier 1 (6), Qualifier 2 (7), Korea (8) 

Final Olympic Qualification (9-12 February 2017) 
Group C: Switzerland (6), Czech Republic (9), Denmark (10), Norway (13). In Arosa, Switzerland.
Group D: Japan (7), Germany (8), Austria (11), France (12). In Tomakomai, Japan.

Olympic Qualification Preliminary Round 3 (December 2016) 
Group E: France (12), Latvia (15), China (16), Italy (20). In Cergy-Pontoise, France. 15-18 Dec.
Group F: Norway (13), Slovakia (14), Hungary (17), Kazakhstan (18). In Stavanger, Norway. 16-18 Dec.

Olympic Qualification Preliminary Round 2 (November 2016) 
Group G: Kazakhstan (18), Great Britain (21), Poland (22), Mexico (26). In Astana, Kazakhstan. 3-6 Nov.
Group H: Netherlands (19), Italy (20), Slovenia (23), Spain (24). In San Sebastian, Spain. 4-6 Nov.

Olympic Qualification Preliminary Round 1 (7-9 October 2016)
Group J: Turkey (25), Mexico (26), Hong Kong (27). In Mexico City, Mexico.