A washing machine appliance including a tub, a basket rotatably mounted within the tub, and an agitation element is provided. The agitation element defines a perimeter lip extending along an axial direction of the washing machine appliance towards a bottom wall of the basket. The bottom wall of the basket defines a ridge extending along the axial direction towards the agitation element. The ridge may be positioned inwardly of and proximate to the perimeter lip along a radial direction of the wash machine appliance to hinder debris from reaching a cavity defined between the agitation element and a bottom wall of the basket.