A receptacle connector mounted to a PCB, includes an insulative housing defining a mating tongue and a metallic shell enclosing the housing to form a mating cavity in which said mating tongue forwardly extends. A metallic shielding plate is embedded within a mid-level of the mating tongue wherein a leg of the shielding plate and a tail of an outermost grounding contact share the same conductive grounding region on the PCB. A plug connector mateable with the receptacle connector, includes an insulative housing defining a mating cavity to receive the mating tongue and equipped with a plurality of contacts and a metallic latch beside the mating cavity, wherein a tail of one grounding contact and a leg of the latch share the same conductive grounding region on a paddle card, which is behind the mating cavity and on which tails of the contacts are electrically and mechanically mounted.