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Two years ago, as her contract with Manchester City neared its end, Lauren Hemp’s future at the club looked uncertain. Barcelona had shown serious interest in signing the England international, and time was ticking for City to retain the winger who had grown into one of Europe’s top attacking talents since joining at the age of 17. In the end, Hemp decided to stay—and now, speaking to GOAL as a Women’s Super League (WSL) champion for the first time, she couldn’t be happier with that decision.

Hemp, who joined City in 2018, has experienced both triumphs and disappointments during her time at the club. She celebrated victories in the FA Cup and the League Cup but also endured the heartbreak of several near misses in WSL title races and short-lived Champions League runs.

“When I was considering re-signing, I knew this was the club I wanted to win with,” she recalls. “Because we hadn’t lifted many trophies recently, I always had that thought in the back of my mind—‘I really want to win, and now I need to start winning trophies’.”

But Hemp’s faith in the club never wavered. “I trusted the club and believed in what we were building here,” she explains. “That’s why I stayed—because I knew that soon we’d be able to compete and win titles.”

Earlier this month, that belief paid off as Manchester City clinched their first WSL crown since 2016. “I’m proud of my decision,” she says. “I’m really happy that I stayed and worked so hard to win [the WSL], just like everyone else has.”

The 25-year-old forward believes this is just “the beginning”. On Sunday, she and her teammates will aim to end another drought when they face Brighton in the FA Cup final, hoping to lift the trophy for the first time in six years.

Hemp already boasts an impressive Wembley record—three victories in four final appearances—and adding another would be special. While City haven’t enjoyed the trophy haul they might have envisioned in recent seasons, this could mark the start of a new era of success.

Monster of a comeback

While City’s WSL triumph seemed relatively straightforward—they built an 11-point lead by early February and sealed the title with a game to spare—their FA Cup journey has been anything but easy.

After cruising past lower-league sides Bournemouth, Sheffield United, and Birmingham City with a combined score of 11-0, City faced real danger in the semi-finals. They trailed 2-0 to defending champions Chelsea with just five minutes of normal time remaining.

Then came the turnaround. Mary Fowler’s stunning strike halved the deficit, and Khadija Shaw equalised in stoppage time. Amid speculation about Chelsea’s interest in Shaw, the Jamaican striker completed the comeback in extra time, scoring again to secure a dramatic 3-2 win.

“We had substitutes coming on and changing the game, players in new positions—it was chaotic,” Hemp laughs. “At one point, I thought I’d broken my nose! But it just showed that we can fight back from anything, regardless of the clock.”

“No one gave up. Even at 2-0 down, everyone’s attitude was, ‘We’ve got a job to do, and we’ll do it.’ Once we got that first goal, our belief just skyrocketed.”

Thorn in the side

Brighton’s semi-final was equally dramatic—they also came from 2-0 down to defeat Liverpool and reach their first-ever FA Cup final. The Seagulls have been in excellent form, drawing 1-1 with both Arsenal and Manchester United, beating City 3-2, and knocking Arsenal out of the FA Cup with a 2-0 win. Hemp and her side are well aware of the threat they pose, having lost to them on the south coast last month.

“They’re a really tough team to beat,” Hemp admits. “They play great football and have a strong mentality. They’re physical, hard in duels, and have some brilliant players—Fran Kirby being one of them. I’ve played alongside her for England, and she’s massive for them.”

Attitude and mentality

Despite her respect for Brighton, Hemp insists City are full of belief heading into the Wembley showdown. “They’re difficult opponents, but we also know we didn’t play at our best in those matches,” she says, reflecting on recent meetings under Brighton manager Dario Vidosic, who has led them to three narrow one-goal wins since taking charge.

“When we perform at our best, we can beat anyone. It’s all about maintaining that attitude and mentality going into the final.”

Hungry for more

The WSL victory has sparked a renewed hunger within the squad. After missing out on the title by goal difference in 2024, by two points in 2021, and due to the points-per-game rule in 2020 when COVID-19 halted the season, lifting the trophy this year has reignited their appetite for success.

“Winning it has made me want to do it again next year,” Hemp says. “It’s given everyone that same hunger because many of us have been here for a while. We’ve had a fantastic season, and it’s only right that we finish it on a high.”

“We worked so hard to reach this final. That Chelsea game was tough, but we turned it around—it showed our winning mentality and determination. We never give up, and that’s why we’ve already lifted one trophy this season. Hopefully, we can make it two.”

Next trophy up

Adding the FA Cup to their WSL title would be a huge statement. Chelsea managed that feat four times during their six-year dominance, winning 13 of 18 domestic trophies between 2019 and 2025. For City, a win on Sunday could signal the start of a similarly successful era.

Hemp believes City can emulate that consistency. Having helped England’s Lionesses break barriers by winning Euro 2022 and reaching the 2023 Women’s World Cup final, she knows what it takes to stay at the top. “When you win, you just want to experience that feeling again,” she says. “These last few weeks have probably been some of the best of our lives, and we want to keep reliving that.”

“Winning the league gives everyone that extra bit of experience to carry forward. With England, after winning the Euros, we knew everyone wanted to beat us—but we used that as motivation to keep pushing for more.”

“When you hit that ceiling, you ask yourself, ‘How can I go higher?’ That’s what we’ll aim for next season. Winning the league is now our standard—next, we want to push deeper into the Champions League. This isn’t the end of a season; it’s the beginning of something bigger.”

Special occasion

Before looking ahead, though, there’s one more game to play. Wembley awaits—a place Hemp knows well. She scored in the 2018 FA Cup final as City beat West Ham 3-0 and featured in the 2019 victory over Everton. With a Euro 2022 win at the same venue, her record there stands at three wins from four finals, the only blemish being the extra-time loss to Chelsea four years ago.

“I love playing at Wembley,” Hemp smiles. “It’s such a special place, and I’ve had some amazing memories there. Hopefully, I can make another one on Sunday.”