Sky Sports columnist Laura Hunter analyses the big talking points from the sixth round of Women's Super League matches, bringing you closer to the key stories at the heart of the women's game.
Why Hemp's form deserves more credit
Plenty of Manchester City's squad featured prominently in the women's Ballon d'Or final rankings last week. Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw rightly came third. Yui Hasegawa finished 11th, while Alex Greenwood and Kerstin Casparij were both named in the top 30. All such placings were a fair reflection of their current status.
But there was one glowing omission. Lauren Hemp, arguably the most in-form winger in the game right now, was curiously nowhere to be seen. It felt odd. And prompted a deeper dive into why she might have been overlooked.
Clearly Bunny Shaw is the undisputed champion of Man City's team, their top scorer and main driver of big results. Incidentally, the Jamaica international is currently on her best run of consecutive scoring starts in the league (8) and has found the net in 13 of 19 games in 2026. However, one might argue those numbers have been made more possible by the ingenuity of Hemp.
City's output is inextricably linked to the effectiveness of Hemp's connection with Shaw. She is her striker's main power source. Since the start of last season, Hemp has laid on six goals for Shaw, the most of any duo. Overall the pair have combined for a total of 20 goals, while Hemp assisting Shaw is the deadliest combination the division has ever seen.
This season Hemp has found Shaw with 12 crosses and they have linked for 14 chances. Those levels are unprecedented. "I've always said it's easy to play with Hempo," Shaw told Sky Sports at the weekend after beating London City Lionesses. "We've built chemistry for years now. When she's on the ball I know I have to make the run."
The sticking point in terms of recognition is therefore this: Hemp's personal goal return has been disappointing. She is the unselfish type and undoubtedly better at creating than scoring, a lesser-celebrated art form. Though a feeling exists within Manchester that Hemp is capable of changing such perception.
Nevertheless, her lack of goals is perhaps the biggest reason for her exclusion from the Ballon d'Or best grouping. Of course City were also not competing in Europe last year - although that did not hinder Shaw's appreciation.
While the headline numbers failed to reflect Hemp's immense role in City's domestic success last term, this year is different. Hemp is matching Shaw's ridiculous return pound for pound, the first pair of team-mates since Sam Kerr and Fran Kirby in 2021-22 to reach 10 goal involvements each in only eight games.
Their telepathic relationship underpinned Chelsea's most dominant era of success. Hemp and Shaw are similarly positioned.
"I can't find words on her," Andree Jeglertz said of his prize winger after her double in a 4-2 victory over Liverpool recently. "She just wants to play football. So I'm like 'how much structure and how much freedom do I give this kind of player?'
"I don't know what she is made of but she can run back and forward for the whole game. I'm so happy that she is scoring because that has been a little bit of a topic for her."
No doubt Hemp's scoring touch has returned. Whether buoyed by her new status as a WSL champion or just injury free and therefore fitter than in previous campaigns, her unlimited creative delivery has levelled up what Jeglertz's side are capable of in the final third.
City have recorded the most build up attacks (35) and most direct attacks (16) in the league this season, using Hemp's ability to mix attacking momentum from deep with her explosive running power and pace higher up the pitch. The difference in her positioning is discreet, as highlighted by the heat map below, but her instinct to crash the box is becoming more consistent.
While Hemp is averaging the same number of final-third touches per 90 as she was last season (34), her touches in the box have risen from seven per game to 10. Again the increase is subtle but highly impactful.
As such, she is getting on the end of chances herself as routinely as she is creating them for others. Her clever blind-side movement and deft finish won City the game at London City, where she shared the pitch with actual Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas - who wore custom made gold boots in a nod to her latest acclaim. The trophy was flaunted, too.
And yet, it was Hemp who shone brightest in Bromley, the creator of Shaw's opener from an unpredictable position centrally before scoring a brilliantly-timed winner. This is a player whose quality habitually decides games. And one who now deserves better recognition than the Ballon d'Or's most recent panel of judges were willing to give.
This weekend, the 26-year-old will equal Steph Houghton for the joint-most league appearances made for Manchester City. At such a young age that achievement is remarkable. She is already a WSL great. It's about time her broader reputation reflected as much.
Watch Man City vs West Ham live on Sky Sports Mix on Saturday; kick-off 12.45pm
