Tawan Slaughter partnered with Franklin Jackson to purchase an American Basketball Association (ABA) franchise for the city in November 2012 at a cost of $5,000.

[6] Home games were played at Tapestry Charter School, which the team referred to as The Thunderdome due to its raucous crowds.

[12] However, PBL owners changed the playoff structure after top seed Bloomington Flex was expelled from the league, ending Buffalo's season.

[13] In protest of the league's actions, Tawan Slaughter made plans for her team to join the American Basketball Association for the 2015–16 ABA season.

[15] Former Buffalo Braves star Ernie DiGregorio was hired as Director of Operations for the 2015–16 PBL season, and to help market tickets for the team's new home venue of Burt Flickinger Center.

[16] DiGregorio replaced outgoing general manager Donald Felice, who had left to found the Western New York Thundersnow.