diff --git a/coral-component-list/src/scripts/SelectListItem.js b/coral-component-list/src/scripts/SelectListItem.js
index c2f968c90d..981744661e 100644
--- a/coral-component-list/src/scripts/SelectListItem.js
+++ b/coral-component-list/src/scripts/SelectListItem.js
@@ -149,6 +149,19 @@ const SelectListItem = Decorator(class extends BaseComponent(HTMLElement) {
     return this._elements.icon;
   }
 
+  /**
+   Sync aria-selected with {@link #selected} when the element has a role that supports it.
+   Must run after {@link #render} assigns the default {@code role="option"}, because selection
+   may be set before the role attribute exists (WCAG 4.1.2).
+   @private
+   */
+  _syncAriaSelected() {
+    if (this.hasAttribute('role') &&
+      VALID_ARIA_SELECTED_ROLES_REGEXP.test(this.getAttribute('role'))) {
+      this.setAttribute('aria-selected', this._selected);
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    Whether the item is selected.
 
@@ -172,10 +185,7 @@ const SelectListItem = Decorator(class extends BaseComponent(HTMLElement) {
     this._reflectAttribute('selected', this.disabled ? false : this._selected);
 
     this.classList.toggle('is-selected', this._selected);
-    if (this.hasAttribute('role') &&
-      VALID_ARIA_SELECTED_ROLES_REGEXP.test(this.getAttribute('role'))) {
-      this.setAttribute('aria-selected', this._selected);
-    }
+    this._syncAriaSelected();
 
     // Toggle check icon
     this._elements.checkIcon.hidden = !this._selected;
@@ -245,6 +255,8 @@ const SelectListItem = Decorator(class extends BaseComponent(HTMLElement) {
 
     // Assign the content zones, moving them into place in the process
     this.content = content;
+
+    this._syncAriaSelected();
   }
 });
 
diff --git a/coral-component-list/src/tests/test.SelectList.Item.js b/coral-component-list/src/tests/test.SelectList.Item.js
index 8d8107f458..d1b65cc63a 100644
--- a/coral-component-list/src/tests/test.SelectList.Item.js
+++ b/coral-component-list/src/tests/test.SelectList.Item.js
@@ -47,6 +47,15 @@ describe('SelectList.Item', function () {
         const el = new SelectList.Item();
         expect(el.selected).to.be.false;
       });
+
+      it('should expose aria-selected after render when selected was set before role exists (SITES-24721)', function () {
+        const el = new SelectList.Item();
+        el.textContent = 'Default';
+        el.selected = true;
+        helpers.build(el);
+        expect(el.getAttribute('role')).to.equal('option');
+        expect(el.getAttribute('aria-selected')).to.equal('true');
+      });
     });
 
     describe('#disabled', function () {