<body><div><p><b>Arguably</b> <a href="https://dailyiowan.com/2023/09/27/ui-to-host-espns-stephen-a-smith-ui-alum-mark-shapiro-for-live-talk-with-caitlin-clark/">the most popular sports analyst on television will interview the most beloved figure in women's college basketball</a> <b>come October. Maybe the best part? The interview will be held in the city the athlete knows and loves.</b></p><p>That analyst is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_A._Smith">Stephen A. Smith</a> and that star athlete is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caitlin_Clark">Caitlin Clark</a> of the Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team. Smith, who has been an ESPN staple for multiple decades on radio and TV, will be joined by media executive <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Shapiro_(media_executive)">Mark Shapiro</a> at the <a href="https://homecoming.uiowa.edu/parade">University of Iowa Homecoming Parade</a>.</p><h2>When is the Interview Happening?:</h2><p>The interview, or rather "<a href="https://homecoming.uiowa.edu/event/127976/0">conversation</a>," as it's been billed, with Smith, Shapiro, and Clark will take place following Iowa's Homecoming Parade, which is <a href="https://homecoming.uiowa.edu/parade">set to commence on Friday, October 6th at 5:45pm</a>. The conversation between the three stars of their profession will happen at 7:30pm, following the conclusion of the parade, in front of <a href="https://imu.uiowa.edu/outdoor-and-campus-spaces/pentacrest">the Old Capitol on the UI Pentacrest</a>.</p><p>The conversation is called "<a href="https://homecoming.uiowa.edu/event/127976/0">Beyond the Game</a>," and will undoubtedly give viewers and attendees insight into Clark as a player and a person.</p><h2>Mark Shapiro's Iowa Connection:</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0GZ99a_0olOZhZY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0GZ99a_0olOZhZY00" width="768" height="768" ></figure><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Shapiro_(media_executive)">Mark Shapiro</a> is the President of Endeavor, a media and talent management company, as well as the President of TKO Group, a sports entertainment company that includes the wildly popular entities UFC and WWE. Previously, Shapiro was the Co-President of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMG_(company)">WME-IMG</a>.</p><p>Shapiro actually graduated from the University of Iowa in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in communication studies. His connection to Iowa City is palpable, and he's had a lot to cheer on when it comes to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caitlin_Clark">Caitlin Clark</a> and the Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team, who captivated the nation last season.</p><h2>The Iowa Hawkeyes Women's Basketball Team Looks to Continue Their Success:</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2mbXcD_0olOZhZY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2mbXcD_0olOZhZY00" width="1633" height="598" ></figure><p>The Iowa women were one of the biggest sports stories last season, with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%E2%80%9323_Iowa_Hawkeyes_women%27s_basketball_team">Caitlin Clark leading the Hawkeyes to their first national title game appearance</a> as well as the team's most wins in a single season (31). Iowa advanced to the NCAA Championship after defeating the then-unbeaten and top-ranked South Carolina women's team in the Final Four. Clark netted 41 points in that game.</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_NCAA_Division_I_women%27s_basketball_championship_game">The Iowa women would ultimately go on to lose to LSU in the NCAA Championship</a>.</p><p>Following this "Beyond the Game" conversation with Smith and Shapiro, <a href="https://hawkeyesports.com/tickets/wbb/">Clark and her squad will be getting ready to face DePaul on October 15th</a> at 2pm for the Crossover at Kinnick in Kinnick Stadium. In addition, Iowa has already sold more than 45,000 tickets for the scrimmage matchup, <a href="https://dailyiowan.com/2023/09/27/ui-to-host-espns-stephen-a-smith-ui-alum-mark-shapiro-for-live-talk-with-caitlin-clark/">which is on pace to be the most attended women's basketball game of all-time</a>!</p></div></body>

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Stephen A. Smith Will Interview Caitlin Clark in Iowa City

Arguably the most popular sports analyst on television will interview the most beloved figure in women's college basketball come October. Maybe the best part? The interview will be held in the city the athlete knows and loves. That analyst is Stephen A. Smith and that star athlete is Caitlin Clark...