Unmasking No.6: The WSL Winger You Should Know

A little game, a big hint: the WSL has stars you name and stars that name themselves. Welcome to clue No.6 — not a shirt number, but the sixth silhouette in a series of players who change matches before the crowd even knows what hit them. I will be blunt: the league's shapes are familiar, but the details matter.

Clue one — speed is the first language. This player turns half-chances into full problems with direct dribbles, angled runs and a hunger for the byline. Clue two — international recognition followed club form; this is a forward-thinking winger who asks questions of both full-backs and managers every time she steps on the pitch.

So who is No.6? It is Lauren Hemp, Manchester City and England's explosive winger. She arrived as a teenager, forced her way into senior thinking with relentless acceleration and simple, lethal final actions; tactically she is both a disruptor and a reliable outlet, the kind of wide player coaches set systems around.

The Guru's verdict: keep her, build through her, or the market will. Manchester City should make her indispensible — more minutes, clearer licence to take defenders on — while rivals should plan for her speed now, not later. Prediction: she remains one of the WSL's defining attackers next season and will be the pivot of both club and country attacking plans.