An electrical connector has a base defining a plurality of aperture spaces therein. A plurality of contacts are received and secured within the aperture spaces, and include signal contacts and ground contacts. In addition, a plurality of ground shields are received and secured within the aperture spaces. The ground shields are positioned to shield selected ones of the signal contacts from noise and/or cross-talk generated by other signal contacts within the base. Each ground shield has an electrical contact site at which the ground shield is in physical and electrical contact with a ground contact. The electrical contact site is flexible.