Needleless connectors are described herein. A needleless connector includes a body, a valve element at least partially disposed within the body, and a base. The valve element includes a cylindrical portion having an outwardly extending flange at a distal end. The flange has a bottom surface with an outer area and an inner area. The base includes a rim having a top surface, a bottom surface distally separated from the top surface of the rim and defining a recess, and protrusions extending inward from the rim into the recess The top surface of the rim is in contact with at least a portion of the outer area of the flange, and the protrusions extend over the inner area and past the inner diameter of the flange.
