The league began operation in June 2021 with five teams,[1] known that season as the Lone Star Series.

The league was founded by three African-American entrepreneurs and is "built upon the pillars of diversity, equity, and inclusion," placing its teams in underserved markets with populations from 200,000 to two million people.

[8] The Amarillo Venom had also planned to play, before suspending operations in February 2022.

The league planned for the championship game to be played on board the USS Lexington, an aircraft carrier that is now a museum ship in Corpus Christi, Texas.

[11] This would not happen, as the AFA cited scheduling conflicts, and decided to hold a postseason "bowl game" style matchup instead.