[3] James played three seasons with Oakleigh Chargers in the NAB League[1][4] and was described as an electric goalkicker.
[6][7] Following her strong performance in the 2021 season, James was selected in the Vic Metro team for the 2021 AFL Women's Under-19 Championships,[8] and played in their victory over Western Australia.
[10] She made her debut in the first round of 2022 AFL Women's season 6 at Ikon Park against Carlton.
[1][11] In the third round, at GMHBA Stadium against Geelong, she kicked her first goal, showcasing her speed and adding another dimension to Collingwood's forward line.
[13] During 2022 AFL Women's season 7, James played in the Finals series for the first time with a breakout performance in which she kicked four goals, breaking the record as the first AFLW player to kick four goals in a finals game.