The 2008 W-League Season was the league's 14th. The regular season began on May 10, 2008, and ended on July 20.
Pali Blues finished the season as national champions, beating FC Indiana 2–1 in the W-League Championship game in Virginia Beach, Virginia on 2 August 2008.
The Pali Blues also finished with the best regular season record in the league, winning all 12 of their matches, and finishing with a +35 goal difference.
Atlanta Silverbacks Women's striker Sarah Steinmann was the league's top scorer, with 19 goals. FC Indiana's Laura Del Rio led the league with 13 assists, while Pali Blues goalkeeper Valerie Henderson enjoyed the best goalkeeping statistics, with a goals-against average of 0.142 per game, and posting 6 shutouts.
Changes from 2007 season Nine teams were added for the season: Team name Metro area Location Previous affiliation Carolina Dynamo Greensboro area Greensboro, NC expansion Carolina RailHawks Research Triangle area Cary, NC expansion Connecticut Passion Hartford and New Haven areas Berlin, CT expansion FC Indiana Indianapolis area Indianapolis, IN previously in WPSL Kalamazoo Outrage Kalamazoo area Kalamazoo, MI expansion Los Angeles Legends suburban Los Angeles area Azusa, CA expansion Pali Blues Los Angeles area Los Angeles, CA expansion Tampa Bay Hellenic Tampa Bay area Tampa, FL expansion West Virginia Illusion Morgantown/North-Central West Virginia areas Fairmont, WV expansion
Three teams folded after the 2007 season: Mile High Edge, and San Diego Sunwaves. Cocoa Expos Women left the league for the WPSL.
Standings Orange indicates W-League title and bye into W-League semifinals. Blue indicates division title clinched Green indicates playoff berth clinched
Central Conference
Midwest Division
Northern Division
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
Northeast Division
Western Conference
Playoffs
Format Five teams each from the Central and Eastern Conferences, and two from the Western Conference, qualify for the playoffs.
In the Central Conference, the second and third place teams from the Northern Division play a one-leg playoff with the winner advancing to the Conference Semifinals, where they will play the Midwest Division champion. The other semifinal will have the second place team from the Midwest Division playing the Northern Division champion.
In the Eastern Conference, the second and third place teams from the Northeast Division play a one-leg playoff with the winner advancing to play the Atlantic Division champion. The other semifinal will have the second place team from the Atlantic Division playing the Northeast Division champion.
The two teams in the Western Conference will play each other to advance to the W-League Semifinals.
The Regular Season champion, Pali Blues, receive a bye into the W-League semifinals, with the second and third place teams from the Western Conference receiving playoff berths.
Conference Brackets Central Conference
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
Pali captured the W-League regular season title and bye into W-League semifinals, enabling Vancouver to take their spot in the Conference Playoffs, and allowing Seattle to clinch a playoff berth.
W-League Championship Bracket
Divisional Rounds
Conference semifinals
Conference finals
W-League Semifinals
W-League Third-Place Game
W-League Finals
References
External links USL historical stats