This study determined the fluid balance of elite female basketball players before and during competition. Before and during two international games seventeen national level players (age: 24.2 ± 3 y; height: 180.5 ± 6 cm; mass: 78.8 ± 8 kg) were assessed. Fluid balance assessment included pregame hydration level as determined by urine specific gravity (USG), change in body mass during the game, ad libitum intake of water and/or sports drink, and estimated sweat losses. Mean (± sd) USG prior to game 1 was 1.005 ± 0.002 and before game 2 USG equaled 1.010 ± 0.005. Players lost an average of 0.7 ± 0.8% and 0.6 ± 0.6% of their body mass during games 1 and 2, respectively. In each game, 3 players experienced a fluid deficit > 1% of body mass and one other a fluid deficit > 2%. Sweat losses in both games, from the beginning of the warm-up to the conclusion of the game (~125 min with average playing time 16-17 min), were approximately 1.99 ± 0.75 L. Fluid intake in game 1 and game 2 equaled 77.8 ± 32% and 78.0 ± 21% of sweat losses, respectively. The majority of players were hydrated prior to each game and did not become meaningfully dehydrated during the game. It is possible the players who experienced the highest levels of dehydration also experienced some degree of playing impairment and the negative relationship between change in body mass and shooting percentage in game 2 provides some support for this notion.