In the MLL's inaugural season in 2001, the Lizards split their home games between Hofstra Stadium, now James M. Shuart Stadium, and EAB Park (now Citibank Park). For the 2002 season, they used Hofstra Stadium as their home field. As of 2003, the Lizards played all home contests at Mitchel Athletic Complex, in Uniondale, New York until 2008. The team will return to James M. Shuart Stadium for their home games in 2009 . The Lizards have won American Division championships in 2001, 2002, and 2003, and Major League Lacrosse titles in 2001 and 2003. The team made the playoffs in 2005 as a wildcard despite a losing record. The team's name and logo are based on the Italian wall lizard, a small reptile that was imported to Long Island (which has no native lizards) in the 1960s and which populate areas of the team's home town of Hempstead.

* one game cancelled in 2003