A female coupler for a quick connect/disconnect coupling, comprising: a female valve body (23, 23') extending along a longitudinal axis, the female valve body having an axially extending through-passage; a sealing sleeve (31, 131, 231) axially moveable within the female valve body between a closed-position, which restricts fluid flow through the female valve body, and an open position, which permits fluid flow through the female valve body; and a resilient interlocking element (49, 149, 249) configured to slidably secure the sealing sleeve within the female valve body; characterized in that: (i) the sealing sleeve is slidably disposed radially outwardly of a radially inward portion of the female valve body, and the resilient interlocking element includes at least one flexible finger element formed by the radially inward portion of the female valve body, the at least one flexible finger element being configured to interlockingly engage with the sealing sleeve to permit the sealing sleeve to move between a forward and a rearward position within the female valve body, in which the flexible finger element has a stop that is configured to restrict further forward movement of the sealing sleeve beyond the forward position; or (ii) the sealing sleeve is slidably disposed radially outwardly of a radially inward portion of the female valve body, and the resilient interlocking element includes at least one flexible finger element (149, 249) formed by a portion of the sealing sleeve, the at least one flexible finger element being configured to interlockingly engage with the radially inward portion of the female valve body to permit the sealing sleeve to move between a forward and a rearward position within the female valve body, in which the flexible finger element has a stop (160, 260) that is configured to restrict further forward movement of the sealing sleeve beyond the forward position. a female valve body (23, 23') extending along a longitudinal axis, the female valve body having an axially extending through-passage; a sealing sleeve (31, 131, 231) axially moveable within the female valve body between a closed-position, which restricts fluid flow through the female valve body, and an open position, which permits fluid flow through the female valve body; and a resilient interlocking element (49, 149, 249) configured to slidably secure the sealing sleeve within the female valve body; characterized in that: (i) the sealing sleeve is slidably disposed radially outwardly of a radially inward portion of the female valve body, and the resilient interlocking element includes at least one flexible finger element formed by the radially inward portion of the female valve body, the at least one flexible finger element being configured to interlockingly engage with the sealing sleeve to permit the sealing sleeve to move between a forward and a rearward position within the female valve body, in which the flexible finger element has a stop that is configured to restrict further forward movement of the sealing sleeve beyond the forward position; or (ii) the sealing sleeve is slidably disposed radially outwardly of a radially inward portion of the female valve body, and the resilient interlocking element includes at least one flexible finger element (149, 249) formed by a portion of the sealing sleeve, the at least one flexible finger element being configured to interlockingly engage with the radially inward portion of the female valve body to permit the sealing sleeve to move between a forward and a rearward position within the female valve body, in which the flexible finger element has a stop (160, 260) that is configured to restrict further forward movement of the sealing sleeve beyond the forward position. (i) the sealing sleeve is slidably disposed radially outwardly of a radially inward portion of the female valve body, and the resilient interlocking element includes at least one flexible finger element formed by the radially inward portion of the female valve body, the at least one flexible finger element being configured to interlockingly engage with the sealing sleeve to permit the sealing sleeve to move between a forward and a rearward position within the female valve body, in which the flexible finger element has a stop that is configured to restrict further forward movement of the sealing sleeve beyond the forward position; or (ii) the sealing sleeve is slidably disposed radially outwardly of a radially inward portion of the female valve body, and the resilient interlocking element includes at least one flexible finger element (149, 249) formed by a portion of the sealing sleeve, the at least one flexible finger element being configured to interlockingly engage with the radially inward portion of the female valve body to permit the sealing sleeve to move between a forward and a rearward position within the female valve body, in which the flexible finger element has a stop (160, 260) that is configured to restrict further forward movement of the sealing sleeve beyond the forward position.