Lauren Hemp’s outstanding start to the season has strengthened the case that she should have featured in the Ballon d’Or top 30, despite Manchester City team-mates Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, Yui Hasegawa, Alex Greenwood and Kerstin Casparij all being recognised.
Shaw finished third, Hasegawa was 11th, while Greenwood and Casparij made the leading 30. Those positions reflected their standing, but Hemp’s absence was striking given her current form.
Shaw remains City’s leading scorer and the central figure in their biggest results. The Jamaica international has started and scored in eight consecutive league matches, her best such run, and has netted in 13 of 19 games in 2026.
But Hemp’s creativity has been crucial to that output. Since the beginning of last season, she has provided six assists for Shaw, more than any other partnership, while the two have combined for 20 goals. Hemp assisting Shaw is the most prolific combination in the division’s history.
This season alone, Hemp has found Shaw with 12 crosses and created 14 chances for her. “I’ve always said it’s easy to play with Hempo,” Shaw told Sky Sports after the weekend win over London City Lionesses. “We’ve built chemistry for years now. When she’s on the ball I know I have to make the run.”
Hemp’s relatively modest goal return is the clearest explanation for her omission. She is naturally more focused on creating than finishing, although there is a belief within Manchester City that she can alter that perception.
Her lack of goals may have counted against her, as did City’s absence from European competition last season, although the latter did not prevent Shaw from receiving recognition. This campaign, however, Hemp is matching Shaw’s remarkable contribution: both have reached 10 goal involvements in eight matches, the first team-mates to do so since Sam Kerr and Fran Kirby for Chelsea in 2021-22.
Hemp’s influence growing
After Hemp scored twice in a 4-2 win over Liverpool, Manchester City manager Andree Jeglertz said: “I can’t find words on her. 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.”
Whether helped by being injury-free, fitter than in previous seasons or encouraged by becoming a WSL champion, Hemp’s finishing has improved. City have registered the league’s most build-up attacks, 35, and direct attacks, 16, with her combining deep progression with pace and explosive movement further forward.
Her average number of final-third touches remains 34 per 90 minutes, but her touches inside the box have increased from seven per game to 10. She is therefore creating chances and arriving to finish them herself more regularly.
Hemp’s blind-side movement and composed finish secured victory at London City, where she played alongside Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, who wore custom-made gold boots and displayed the trophy. Yet Hemp was the standout player in Bromley, assisting Shaw’s opener from a central position before scoring the winner.
The 26-year-old will equal Steph Houghton’s record for Manchester City league appearances this weekend. Already regarded as a WSL great, Hemp’s growing influence suggests her wider reputation should now match her performances.
Manchester City v West Ham is live on Sky Sports Mix on Saturday, with kick-off at 12.45pm.
