Mvula started playing netball at age 13 and became the first Malawian to play in the
Netball Superleague after she was picked up by
Manchester Thunder following the
Netball World Cup in 2015. She has paved the way for a number of Malawian players to join the Superleague. Mvula played for
Manchester Thunder for six years from 2017 until 2022, winning titles in 2019 and 2022. She was one of the three Malawian players alongside
Loreen Ngwira and
Takondwa Lwazi to play at the 2019 British Fast5 All-Stars Championships. She was named Sky Sports Fan's Favourite Player of the Season in 2019. Mvula was named in the Netball Superleague All Stars team who played a series against England Netball in January 2021. After her role in Thunder's unbeaten and grand final winning season in 2022, during which Mvula scored 774 goals, she announced she would be leaving to play in another country. Her long time coach Karen Greig said "Whilst I am disappointed that we lose Joyce, I am so proud of her that she is getting the opportunity to show how amazing she is overseas. It's been a real honour to have been part of her netball journey and I wish her all the luck in the world." Mvula signed for
Central Pulse in New Zealand ahead of the
2023 ANZ Premiership season. She made her Netball Superleague return in 2024, joining her former teammate and now coach
Liana Leota at
Leeds Rhinos. == International career ==