See main article: 2012 Bank of the West Classic.
Serena Williams was the defending champion, and successfully defended her title, defeating lucky loser CoCo Vandeweghe in the final, 7–5, 6–3. It was the first all-American final on the WTA Tour since the 2009 WTA Tour Championships, and the first on American soil since Los Angeles in 2004.
The top four seeds received a bye into the second round.
