A connector assembly includes a housing with a terminal cavity and a terminal lock adapted to retain an electrical terminal in the terminal cavity. A terminal position assurance is attached to the housing and engages the terminal lock. The connector assembly also includes a protector plate with a protector body having a front plate face and an opposed back plate face. Terminal openings pass through the protector body. A plurality of staged locks are attached to the protector body for relative rotational movement. The staged locks extending beyond the front plate face and also extending beyond the back plate face. The protector plate is movable relative to the housing in a mate direction from a pre-stage position to a pre-lock position. The protector plate is retained in the pre-lock position relative to the housing against further movement in the mate direction by a staged lock.