A memory card connector includes a front receptacle area communicating with an interior cavity for receiving a memory card. The connector has an L-shaped insulating housing which includes a rear terminal-mounting section extending transversely across a rear of the cavity, and a longitudinal side wall section extending forwardly of one end of the rear section defining one side of the cavity. A plurality of terminals are mounted in a side-by-side array along the rear terminal-mounting section of the housing and have contact portions at a rear of the cavity for engaging contacts on the memory card. A metal shell covers at least a portion of the insulating housing and includes a cover plate defining a top of the cavity and a longitudinal side wall plate depending from the cover plate and defining a side of the cavity opposite said side defined by the longitudinal side wall section of the housing.