How can I reverse the default date order in Mac Mail?

Sorry if this is in the wrong section... I couldn't find Mac Mail as a topic.

I've always used the Mac Mail app in classic layout. Up until very recently when I viewed emails in order of "date received" they always displayed with the newest at the top of the list and the oldest at the bottom. Now somehow the order has switched and it is always displaying the oldest emails at the top of the list!

I know I can instantly reverse the chronological order by clicking the "date received" button, but I just want the newest at the top as the default mode every time like it used to be, rather than having to click to switch it every single time!

I was hoping selecting the option "show most recent messages at the top" option in the View subsection of the preferences would solve the problem, but that box is already checked and doesn't seem to change anything.

I would be super grateful for anyone's help on how to fix this. I'm not super tech savvy but I'm hoping there is some simple solution I can implement here - thanks!