The WTA match centre lists the 2026 US Open women's singles final as Sabalenka v Rybakina (wtatennis.com, 11 September 2026); BBC Sport reported the same day that Rybakina beat Gauff to set up the final.
The market resolves on the US Open official draw and results (usopen.org) or the WTA, published at the end of the second semi-final on Thursday 10 September. It resolves YES if Sabalenka is listed as a finalist, whether or not the final is completed; a walkover into the final counts. If that source has not published in time, BBC Sport and Sky Sports settle it.
Only one of the last eight defending champions won the title again. That was Sabalenka herself, in 2025. Below is how each defence ended for the women who came back to New York as champion, newest first, from reports in the Guardian, BBC Sport and Al Jazeera.