Hemp was part of a Citizens’ squad who hammered Brighton 4-0 at Wembley on Sunday to add the prestigious cup to her first WSL title of her career.
The North Walsham star could have left in 2024, with the likes of Barcelona reportedly tracking the decorated Lionesses’ attacker, but Hemp signed a new three year deal to stay at City.
The 25-year-old is now with the Lionesses preparing for a crunch World Cup qualifier against rivals Spain later this week.
"I trusted the club and I believed in them and that's why I stayed, because I knew that at some point soon, in the near future, we were going to be able to compete and win trophies," she said, in an interview carried by Goal.
“When I first came to look to re-sign, I knew this was a club that I wanted to win with and because we hadn't won many trophies recently, there was always that thing in the back of my mind like, 'I really want to win and, now, I need to be winning trophies. I'm really happy that I stayed and worked so hard to win (the WSL), as everyone has.”
Hemp hailed the impact of former Danish boss Andrée Jeglertz who joined the club at the start of the past season.
“He's a fantastic manager,” she said. “He man-manages the group really well, and he brings a lot of tactical insights, but the main thing I'd say is he lets us have the freedom as players on the pitch to make our own mistakes, to learn from them and to do things better.
"And I feel like that's been something maybe different this season that's helped us to win the way that we have done. I think he's given us that confidence to be able to have that freedom, especially in positions like mine. I enjoy having that freedom and opportunities to take people on and create as many chances as possible.
Norfolk's Lauren Hemp helped Manchester City's Women win a league and cup double (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)
Hemp previously won the Women's FA Cup in 2019 but admitted prior to Sunday’s final completing a first double against the Seagulls was a huge incentive.
“It would mean a lot; I’ve been at this club for so long, and I've been waiting for the league title. To be able to win the FA Cup in the same season would just be massive for us,” she said, on the FA site. “I feel like because we've had such a good season, it would only be right for us to end on such a high by winning the cup.
“I’ve had really good memories at Wembley, especially in the FA Cup. Unfortunately, I lost my last one. I scored in my first one when I came off the bench, and that was probably the first moment for me at City when I was still like 18 or 19 years old, where I was like, ‘Wow, this is what it could be like for the rest of my career’.
"I've had some fantastic memories there and playing at Wembley is such a special occasion with so many fans there to support.”
Lauren Hemp won her first WSL title with Manchester City this season (Image: PA)
Hemp has won two European Championships and reached a World Cup final with the Lionesses, but ranked her cup final strike in the 2019 win over West Ham as a career highlight.
“I couldn't believe it,” she said. “It was one of those ‘pinch me’ moments because I couldn't believe it went in and that was the first time I'd ever been to Wembley, and to score there as well, it's definitely one of the biggest highlights of my City career for sure.
“It's games like that that give you the hunger to want to keep doing it more and keep winning more and hopefully lift more trophies.”