Polish national Daria Pionko, 21, was found in Springwell Road, Holbeck, at about 01:30 GMT on Wednesday.
Police said Miss Pionko, who had been living in Leeds, was a sex worker. She was taken to hospital for treatment, but died a short time later.
A 38-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident.
Miss Pionko had been found unconscious with injuries consistent with an assault, West Yorkshire Police said.
Officers found her in a defined managed area where sex workers operate during set hours, the force said.
The force appealed for witnesses to come forward and in particular anyone who was in the Springwell Road area between 20:00 Tuesday and about 01:30 Wednesday.
A woman who died after being found seriously injured in Leeds, sparking a murder inquiry, has been named by police.