# 2008 USL W-League season

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

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | FC Indiana | 14 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 67 | 3 | +64 | 40 |
| 2 | Chicago Gaels | 14 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 39 | 9 | +30 | 33 |
| 3 | Minnesota Lightning | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 32 | 19 | +13 | 29 |
| 4 | Cleveland Internationals Women | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 31 | 23 | +8 | 26 |
| 5 | Michigan Hawks | 14 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 33 | −21 | 13 |
| 6 | Kalamazoo Outrage | 14 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 36 | −30 | 8 |
| 7 | Fort Wayne Fever | 13 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 16 | 39 | −23 | 7 |
| 8 | West Michigan Firewomen | 13 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 11 | 52 | −41 | 4 |
* 1 2 Fort Wayne and West Michigan did not play each other a second time, as the game could not be rescheduled before July 20 and would not affect the playoffs.

#### Northern Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Ottawa Fury Women | 14 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 51 | 7 | +44 | 39 |
| 2 | Toronto Lady Lynx | 14 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 40 | 14 | +26 | 34 |
| 3 | Laval Comets | 14 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 39 | 17 | +22 | 28 |
| 4 | Rochester Rhinos Women | 14 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 18 | 33 | −15 | 20 |
| 5 | Hamilton Avalanche | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 19 | 21 | −2 | 18 |
| 6 | Western Mass Lady Pioneers | 14 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 18 | 34 | −16 | 11 |
| 7 | London Gryphons | 14 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 15 | 35 | −20 | 11 |
| 8 | Vermont Lady Voltage | 14 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 5 | 44 | −39 | 1 |

### Eastern Conference
#### Atlantic Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Atlanta Silverbacks Women | 14 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 50 | 6 | +44 | 40 |
| 2 | Charlotte Lady Eagles | 14 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 44 | 13 | +31 | 34 |
| 3 | Tampa Bay Hellenic | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 27 | 16 | +11 | 26 |
| 4 | Hampton Roads Piranhas | 14 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 29 | 19 | +10 | 22 |
| 5 | Carolina RailHawks | 14 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 22 | 17 | +5 | 22 |
| 6 | Richmond Kickers Destiny | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 18 | 28 | −10 | 18 |
| 7 | Carolina Dynamo | 14 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 23 | 30 | −7 | 14 |
| 8 | Bradenton Athletics | 14 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 11 | 52 | −41 | 6 |
| 9 | West Virginia Illusion | 14 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 46 | −40 | 3 |

#### Northeast Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Washington Freedom | 14 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 32 | 7 | +25 | 35 |
| 2 | Long Island Rough Riders | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 28 | 13 | +15 | 29 |
| 3 | Boston Renegades | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 32 | 12 | +20 | 29 |
| 4 | Jersey Sky Blue | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 10 | +4 | 26 |
| 5 | Connecticut Passion | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 24 | 23 | +1 | 23 |
| 6 | Northern Virginia Majestics | 14 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 17 | 23 | −6 | 14 |
| 7 | New York Magic | 14 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 14 | 23 | −9 | 13 |
| 8 | New Jersey Wildcats | 14 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 17 | 35 | −18 | 8 |
| 9 | Fredericksburg Lady Gunners | 14 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 5 | 37 | −32 | 1 |

### Western Conference

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Pali Blues | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 4 | +35 | 36 |
| 2 | Vancouver Whitecaps Women | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 18 | +3 | 24 |
| 3 | Seattle Sounders Women | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 19 | 11 | +8 | 19 |
| 4 | Real Colorado Cougars | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 19 | −4 | 18 |
| 5 | Fort Collins Force | 12 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 15 | 19 | −4 | 12 |
| 6 | Los Angeles Legends | 12 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 26 | −15 | 5 |
| 7 | Ventura County Fusion | 12 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 32 | −23 | 4 |

## 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
| Central Divisional Round | Central Divisional Round | Central Divisional Round | Central Semifinals | Central Semifinals | Central Semifinals | Central Championship | Central Championship | Central Championship |
| | | | MW1 | FC Indiana | 5 | | | |
| | | | NO3 | Laval Comets | 1 | | | |
| NO2 | Toronto Lady Lynx | 0 | NO3 | Laval Comets | 1 | | | |
| NO3 | Laval Comets | 2 | | | | | | |
| NO3 | Laval Comets | 2 | | | | MW1 | FC Indiana (AET) | 4 |
| | | | | | | NO1 | Ottawa Fury Women | 3 |
| | | | NO1 | Ottawa Fury Women | 3 | | | |
| | | | MW2 | Chicago Gaels | 2 | | | |
Eastern Conference
| Eastern Divisional Round | Eastern Divisional Round | Eastern Divisional Round | Eastern Semifinals | Eastern Semifinals | Eastern Semifinals | Eastern Championship | Eastern Championship | Eastern Championship |
| | | | AT1 | Atlanta Silverbacks Women | 1 | | | |
| | | | NE2 | Long Island Rough Riders | 0 | | | |
| NE2 | Long Island Rough Riders | 1 | NE2 | Long Island Rough Riders | 0 | | | |
| NE3 | Boston Renegades | 0 | | | | | | |
| NE3 | Boston Renegades | 0 | | | | AT1 | Atlanta Silverbacks Women | 1 |
| | | | | | | NE1 | Washington Freedom (AET) | 2 |
| | | | NE1 | Washington Freedom (AET) | 6 | | | |
| | | | AT2 | Charlotte Lady Eagles | 5 | | | |
Western Conference
| Western Finals | Western Finals | Western Finals |
| W1 | Vancouver Whitecaps Women | 0 |
| W2 | Seattle Sounders Women | 1 |
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

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Championship | Championship | Championship |
| WL | Pali Blues | 2 | | | |
| NE1 | Washington Freedom | 0 | | | |
| NE1 | Washington Freedom | 0 | WL | Pali Blues | 2 |
| | | | MW1 | FC Indiana | 1 |
| MW1 | FC Indiana | 1 | MW1 | FC Indiana | 1 |
| W2 | Seattle Sounders Women | 0 | Consolation | Consolation | Consolation |
| | | | NE1 | Washington Freedom | 2 |
| | | | W1 | Seattle Sounders Women | 0 |