Belgium's Julie Vanloo's Name Caused Pronunciation Confusion During Olympics Loss to Team USA

Julie Vanloo is not new to the women's basketball scene. In fact, Vanloo has played around the world, eventually leading to what is her rookie season in the WNBA with the Washington Mystics, at 31-years-old. Vanloo and a game Belgium team faced off against Team USA in Olympics competition, a contest the American squad eventually pulled away to win 87-74. But not before there was some confusion about how to pronounce Vanloo's name due to how it was said on the telecast, which differed from what fans are accustomed to in the W.

are the announcers saying Vanloo’s name wrong or is it actually pronounced “van-low” because in the W they pronounce it how it’s spelled
— womensbasketballfan (@womensbasketb12) August 1, 2024

It was enough of a talking point to be brought up on the broadcast. Noah Eagle, who was calling the contest during NBC's Olympics coverage said this about the topic during the game. "Julie Von-Low. A lot of you know her as Van-Loo. As did we. But we're here in France and we did hear that the pronunciation, at least around here, is Von-Low. So we're honoring that."

This is how you pronounce Julie Vanloo’s name pic.twitter.com/h7L2NB9Vrw
— 🎀 CEO OF TYPOS (@ahmurmur) August 1, 2024

Vanloo struggled from the floor during the loss to Team USA shooting just 1-11 from three. She did manage to put up 11 points, but that was not enough to overcome the unstoppable U.S. combination of Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson. That pair combined for 49 points.

Vanloo is scoring 8 points per game to go with 5.1 assists in her first year with the Mystics in the W. Though it remains to be seen how her name will be pronounced once the season resumes and she is playing in DC and not Paris. Even if Julie did clear up the matter herself.

Dang we’ve been doing her dirty 😭

🎥 @LaChinaRobinson

pic.twitter.com/O3oKJoLjOw
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) August 1, 2024