World record holder Kendra Harrison (USA) was the slowest time qualifier to the final, while 2011 champion Sally Pearson (AUS), Dawn Harper-Nelson (USA) and Pamela Dutkiewicz (GER) were the top three fastest. It was Harper-Nelson's fifth straight championship and fourth final.
In the final, Harrison was out slightly faster than Pearson, Christina Manning (USA) and heptathlete Nadine Visser over the first hurdle. Harrison held the lead until she rattled the third hurdle, where Pearson and Manning advanced, about even over the fourth hurdle, with a wall of Harrison, Dutkiewicz, Visser, Harper-Nelson and Alina Talay (BLR) mere inches behind. But Pearson was gaining a little ground at every hurdle as Harper-Nelson edged forward ahead of Manning. By the tenth barrier, Pearson had almost a metre lead, Harper Nelson another half metre on Manning, with Dutkiewicz and Harrison still just inches behind. On the run in to the finish, Harper-Nelson gained on Pearson, but not enough to grab gold, while Dutkiewicz got past Harrison and Manning, all leaning for a photo finish.