| Club: | Canberra United |
| Season: | 2008–09 |
| Chairman: | Mel Patzwald |
| Mgrtitle: | Head Coach |
| Manager: | Robbie Hooker |
| Stadium: | McKellar Park |
| League: | W-League |
| League Result: | 3rd |
| Cup1: | W-League Finals |
| Cup1 Result: | Runners-up |
| League Topscorer: | Caitlin Munoz (4) |
| Highest Attendance: | 1,637 vs. Central Coast Mariners (9 November 2008) W-League |
| Lowest Attendance: | 712 vs. Queensland Roar (27 December 2008) W-League |
| Average Attendance: | |
| Largest Win: | 3–0 (13 December 2008) W-League |
| Largest Loss: | 0–2 vs. Queensland Roar (A) (17 January 2009) W-League Grand Final |
| Nextseason: | 2009 |
The 2008–09 season was Canberra United Football Club's first season, in the newly formed women's league in Australia the W-League. Canberra United finished 3rd in their W-League season, finishing as runners-up in the Grand Final.
The first announcement of the club came in July 2008, coinciding with the establishment of the new W-League. The formation of the new club presented a unique situation in the league, that it was not associated with an established A-League side. In August, Canberra appointed Matildas assistant coach Robbie Hooker as coach for the inaugural season, and ACT Senator Kate Lundy as club chair.[1] [2] United also announced its first key signing in local Canberran and Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams. Hooker made a number of key signings in the first registration window, also securing Caitlin Munoz, Amy Chapman, Grace Gill-McGrath, Hayley Crawford, Rhian Davies, Thea Slatyer for the inaugural season. The squad was further expanded in the lead up to the first round, signing on a number of players from the ACT and Southern NSW, and also signing Sasha McDonnell and Kara Mowbray from Queensland. The final squad presented significant strength on paper, boasting eight full internationals and a further four Young Matildas.
United started the season steadily, alternating losses and wins in the opening rounds - including a win over eventual Premiers Queensland Roar. Scoring came with some difficulty for the side, with four goals in their opening first five matches. Influencing this record was an injury to striker Caitlin Munoz in Round 1, keeping her sidelined for a number of weeks. Munoz's return to the side in Round 6 immediately lifted the scoring rate, contributing four goals in the last five rounds. Despite early losses, Canberra were unbeaten in the last seven rounds of the competition, achieving a third placed finish with a record of four wins, four draws and two losses. Canberra's strength throughout the season has been in defence, drawn from a number of experienced players. In front of a dependable Williams in goal, a defensive backline led by Thea Slatyer and captain Ellie Brush frustrated opposition and ensured the second-best defensive record in the competition, bettered only by Premiers Queensland.
United won their away semi-final against Newcastle Jets,[3] and progressed to the inaugural final, where they were defeated by Queensland Roar.
| Name and position | No | Joined in | Former team | Birth date | Citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | |||||
| 1 | 2008 |  ACT Academy of Sport | 1988 5, df=yes | | |
| 20 | 2008 | Canberra City SC | 1990 6, df=yes | | |
| Defenders | |||||
| 7 | 2008 | ACT Academy of Sport | 1988 8, df=yes | | |
| 2 | 2008 | NSW Institute of Sport | 1981 1, df=yes | | |
| 9 | 2008 | ACT Academy of Sport | 1989 6, df=yes | | |
| 8 | 2008 | ACT Academy of Sport | 1991 5, df=yes | | |
| 13 | 2008 | NSW Institute of Sport | 1983 2, df=yes | | |
| Bronwyn Studman | 4 | 2008 | ACT Academy of Sport | 1992 3, df=yes | |
| Snez Veljanovska | 16 | 2008 | ACT Academy of Sport | (age 20) | |
| 17 | 2008 | ACT Academy of Sport | 1991 6, df=yes | | |
| Midfielders | |||||
| 18 | 2008 | ACT Academy of Sport | 1991 6, df=yes | | |
| 19 | 2008 | ACT Academy of Sport | 1992 1, df=yes | | |
| 11 | 2008 | Belwest Foxes | 1987 6, df=yes | | |
| Kara Mowbray | 12 | 2008 | Queensland Lions | 1985 5, df=yes | |
| 15 | 2008 | Western NSW Panthers FC | 1991 12, df=yes | | |
| Forwards | |||||
| 3 | 2008 | ACT Academy of Sport | 1987 12, df=yes | | |
| 10 | 2008 | NSW Institute of Sport | 1984 3, df=yes | | |
| 5 | 2008 | Queensland Lions | 1987 1, df=yes | | |
| 6 | 2008 |  Pali Blues | 1983 10, df=yes | | |
| 14 | 2008 | Western NSW Panthers FC | 1991 12, df=yes | | |
| width=20% | Player | width=20% | Team | width=15% | Start Date | width=15% | End Date | width=30% | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellie Raymond | ACTAS | 29 October 2008 | 6 November 2008 | Cover for Ashleigh Sykes while on international duty[4] | |||||
| Sophie Kochinos | ACTAS | 29 October 2008 | 6 November 2008 | Cover for Christine Walters while on international duty | |||||
| Michaela Day | Belwest Foxes | 29 October 2008 | 6 November 2008 | Cover for Bronwyn Studman while on international duty |
See main article: 2008–09 W-League.
The league fixtures were announced on 1 October 2008.