4 hours ago
Out Erik Shoji and Merrick McHenry Lead Team USA at 2025 Volleyball World Championships
READ TIME: 15 MIN.
At the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championships, Team USA's impressive performance has not only captured attention for its athletic prowess but also for its groundbreaking embrace of inclusivity. For the first time, two openly gay men, Erik Shoji and Merrick McHenry, are playing key roles on the roster, helping to fuel the team’s success on the world stage. Their leadership and openness are resonating far beyond the volleyball court, offering visibility and hope to LGBTQ+ youth and sports fans worldwide .
Team USA entered the World Championships in the Philippines with momentum, quickly establishing themselves as a top contender by finishing first in their pool and advancing to the round of 16 . Erik Shoji, a seasoned libero from Honolulu and a veteran Olympian, has anchored the team’s defense with trademark steadiness and precision .
Meanwhile, Merrick McHenry, a rising middle blocker from Texas and UCLA alumnus, has emerged as one of the most dynamic players of the tournament. In a recent interview, McHenry spoke about the growth and cohesion of the squad: “It’s been really great just to see us playing more together as a team...We have some veterans, we have some new guys. To really be able to come together and start seeing the way our team can compete and play together, it’s been super amazing and I’m super excited to see how the rest of the tournament goes” .
Both Shoji and McHenry have been open about their identities, with Shoji having previously spoken out for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports and McHenry recently joining him as an out athlete . Their visibility is significant in a sport and gender category where out male athletes remain rare at the elite level.
The impact of their presence is being felt both within the squad and among fans. As McHenry explained, the support from veteran teammates, including Shoji and captain Micah Christenson, has created an environment where athletes can be themselves and focus on excelling: “The veterans have honestly done a great job of just keeping everyone super calm and levelheaded...To listen to guys like those who I respect and I’ve looked up to for so long, it’s just been really nice to grow with them and just to get to know them” .
Off the court, both athletes have used their platforms to advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility. Shoji, in particular, has been active on social media, sharing messages of support for young LGBTQ+ athletes and calling for broader acceptance in sports . Their outspokenness is inspiring a new generation of players to pursue their passions without fear.
The international volleyball community has largely welcomed Shoji and McHenry’s visibility, with coverage from major sports outlets and positive reactions from fans across the globe . The symbolic weight of their roles has not gone unnoticed. For many LGBTQ+ youth, particularly those in countries where being out in sports remains challenging, seeing two gay men excelling at the highest level of men’s volleyball offers a powerful message of hope and possibility.
Team USA, powered by this inclusivity, remains focused on their goal of capturing the world title. As the elimination rounds begin, both Shoji and McHenry have stressed the importance of unity and perseverance. “It isn’t always pretty, but it’s just about winning sometimes,” McHenry reflected on the team’s journey so far .
The presence and success of Shoji and McHenry at the 2025 FIVB World Championships mark a significant milestone for LGBTQ+ inclusion in men’s sports—a domain where progress has often lagged behind women’s and mixed-gender leagues . Their example demonstrates that authenticity and athletic achievement can go hand in hand, even in traditionally conservative arenas.
Organizations such as USA Volleyball have also played a role, fostering an environment that supports athletes of all identities. The hope among advocates is that this moment will help accelerate the acceptance of LGBTQ+ athletes in all sports, at all levels, worldwide.
As Team USA continues its run at the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championships, the stories of Erik Shoji and Merrick McHenry are making waves far beyond the sidelines. Their courage, openness, and athletic excellence are setting a new standard for what is possible in sports and inspiring countless fans and future athletes to live—and play—authentically.
