diff --git a/packages/virtualized-lists/Lists/VirtualizedSectionList.js b/packages/virtualized-lists/Lists/VirtualizedSectionList.js
index b9551b655421..b712edac5799 100644
--- a/packages/virtualized-lists/Lists/VirtualizedSectionList.js
+++ b/packages/virtualized-lists/Lists/VirtualizedSectionList.js
@@ -138,7 +138,14 @@ class VirtualizedSectionList<
   State,
 > {
   scrollToLocation(params: ScrollToLocationParamsType) {
-    let index = params.itemIndex;
+    // Each section prepends a header cell in the flattened VirtualizedList, so the
+    // first row of a section lives at the section's starting offset *plus one*. The
+    // leading `+ 1` maps `itemIndex: 0` to that first row (rather than the header),
+    // matching the documented behavior: "the item at the specified sectionIndex and
+    // itemIndex". Without it, `itemIndex: 0` resolved to the section header, which is
+    // already pinned to the top when sticky headers are enabled and therefore silently
+    // no-ops (facebook/react-native#50143).
+    let index = params.itemIndex + 1;
     for (let i = 0; i < params.sectionIndex; i++) {
       index += this.props.getItemCount(this.props.sections[i].data) + 2;
     }
@@ -147,10 +154,14 @@ class VirtualizedSectionList<
       return;
     }
     const listRef = this._listRef;
-    if (params.itemIndex > 0 && this.props.stickySectionHeadersEnabled) {
+    if (params.itemIndex >= 0 && this.props.stickySectionHeadersEnabled) {
+      // Every item sits below the (potentially sticky) section header, so the header's
+      // height is added for all items — including `itemIndex: 0` — to keep the target
+      // row from being obscured by the pinned header. The header's flattened index is
+      // now `index - params.itemIndex - 1`.
       const frame = listRef
         .__getListMetrics()
-        .getCellMetricsApprox(index - params.itemIndex, listRef.props);
+        .getCellMetricsApprox(index - params.itemIndex - 1, listRef.props);
       viewOffset += frame.length;
     }
     const toIndexParams: {
diff --git a/packages/virtualized-lists/Lists/__tests__/VirtualizedSectionList-test.js b/packages/virtualized-lists/Lists/__tests__/VirtualizedSectionList-test.js
index cc6b1da8d266..1ed199e7a0b9 100644
--- a/packages/virtualized-lists/Lists/__tests__/VirtualizedSectionList-test.js
+++ b/packages/virtualized-lists/Lists/__tests__/VirtualizedSectionList-test.js
@@ -266,19 +266,83 @@ describe('VirtualizedSectionList', () => {
         viewOffset,
       });
       expect(spy).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
-        index: 1,
+        // Section header occupies flattened index 0, so itemIndex 1 (the second row)
+        // is flattened index 2.
+        index: 2,
         itemIndex: 1,
         sectionIndex: 0,
         viewOffset: viewOffset + ITEM_HEIGHT,
       });
     });
 
+    it('when sticky stickySectionHeadersEnabled={true}, itemIndex: 0 targets the first row and compensates for the sticky header (#50143)', async () => {
+      const {instance, spy} = await createVirtualizedSectionList({
+        stickySectionHeadersEnabled: true,
+      });
+
+      // $FlowFixMe[prop-missing] scrollToLocation isn't on instance
+      instance?.scrollToLocation({
+        sectionIndex: 0,
+        itemIndex: 0,
+      });
+      // Flattened index 1 is the first item (index 0 is the sticky header). The header
+      // height is added to viewOffset so the row is not obscured by the pinned header.
+      // Previously this produced index: 0 (the header) with viewOffset: 0, which no-ops
+      // against the already-pinned sticky header.
+      expect(spy).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+        index: 1,
+        itemIndex: 0,
+        sectionIndex: 0,
+        viewOffset: ITEM_HEIGHT,
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('itemIndex: 0 in a later section resolves to that section first row (#50143)', async () => {
+      const {instance, spy} = await createVirtualizedSectionList();
+
+      // $FlowFixMe[prop-missing] scrollToLocation isn't on instance
+      instance?.scrollToLocation({
+        sectionIndex: 1,
+        itemIndex: 0,
+      });
+      // Section 0 occupies flattened indices 0..4 (header + 3 items + footer). Section 1
+      // starts at 5 (its header), so its first item is flattened index 6. Previously this
+      // resolved to index 5 (section 1's header) and silently no-oped.
+      expect(spy).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+        index: 6,
+        itemIndex: 0,
+        sectionIndex: 1,
+        viewOffset: 0,
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('out-of-range itemIndex forwards to scrollToIndex so onScrollToIndexFailed can fire (#50143)', async () => {
+      const {instance, spy} = await createVirtualizedSectionList();
+
+      // $FlowFixMe[prop-missing] scrollToLocation isn't on instance
+      instance?.scrollToLocation({
+        sectionIndex: 1,
+        // Section 1 only has 3 items (valid itemIndex 0..2); 5 is out of range.
+        itemIndex: 5,
+      });
+      // The out-of-range location is still forwarded to VirtualizedList.scrollToIndex,
+      // which is responsible for range validation / firing onScrollToIndexFailed — it is
+      // no longer swallowed by scrollToLocation.
+      expect(spy).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+        // 5 (header + 3 items + footer of section 0) + 1 (section 1 header) + 5 (itemIndex).
+        index: 11,
+        itemIndex: 5,
+        sectionIndex: 1,
+        viewOffset: 0,
+      });
+    });
+
     it.each([
       [
-        // prevents #18098
         {sectionIndex: 0, itemIndex: 0},
         {
-          index: 0,
+          // itemIndex 0 is the first row (flattened index 1), not the section header.
+          index: 1,
           itemIndex: 0,
           sectionIndex: 0,
           viewOffset: 0,
@@ -287,7 +351,7 @@ describe('VirtualizedSectionList', () => {
       [
         {sectionIndex: 2, itemIndex: 1},
         {
-          index: 11,
+          index: 12,
           itemIndex: 1,
           sectionIndex: 2,
           viewOffset: 0,
@@ -300,7 +364,7 @@ describe('VirtualizedSectionList', () => {
           viewOffset: 25,
         },
         {
-          index: 1,
+          index: 2,
           itemIndex: 1,
           sectionIndex: 0,
           viewOffset: 25,