Caitlin Clark has been offered a spot on Dancing with the Stars but is REFUSING to take part despite ABC producers ‘bending over backwards’ to land her – as insiders reveal OTHER TV shows she’s eyeing up

Caitlin Clark is a national sporting superstar who roasted Michael Che when she crashed Saturday Night Live‘s ‘Weekend Update’.

But despite delighting NBC bosses with her first foray into primetime TV, ABC execs are less than enthralled after she ‘respectfully declined’ their offer to sign up for Dancing with the Stars.

The 22-year-old WNBA star, who was recently selected first overall by the Indiana Fever, is said to have turned down an invitation to appear on this year’s season as she plans to dive into ‘other opportunities’ after her summer on the court.

‘Every single offer you could get has been thrown her way,’ an insider told DailyMail.com exclusively.

‘The producers of Dancing with the Stars have asked Caitlin to take part, but she has respectfully declined.

Caitlin Clark has ‘respectfully declined’ to participate in Dancing with the Stars 2024, insiders claim

The basketball star – #22 of the Indiana Fever – pictured posing for a portrait at Gainbridge Fieldhouse during her introductory press conference on April 17

‘She is focusing on the WNBA this summer and in the fall when DWTS comes back, Caitlin is going to dive into some other opportunities and chase those goals instead.

‘She’s not opposed to doing reality shows, but DWTS is not going to be on the table much to the chagrin of ABC, as they really wanted her and would have bent over backward to get her for the show – but it just isn’t going to happen.’

They added: ‘For Caitlin, if shows like Celebrity Family Feud or Masked Singer came calling, that would be more in her wheelhouse, and she will cross that bridge if presented.’

But bosses aren’t going to give up on their hunt for a sporting legend to take to the ballroom this summer.

‘Whoever makes a considerable impact during the Olympics will be asked 100 per cent to be a part of the show,’ the insider said.

‘They have had former Olympians like Simone Biles and Nancy Kerrigan and would love more in the future.

‘The chances of the show getting more Olympians is all but a formality and is going to be a guarantee to be a part of the future season.’

DailyMail.com has contacted Caitlin and ABC for comment.

A source told DailyMail.com that producers of Dancing with the Stars have asked Caitlin, 22, to take part, but she is keen to focus on ‘other opportunities’

But she would reportedly consider The Masked Singer or Celebrity Family Feud if she wanted to entertain reality TV

Bosses aren’t going to give up on their hunt for a sporting legend to take to the ballroom and are keen to bag an Olympian – pictured Simone Biles on the 2017 series

Caitlin received a thunderous reception when she made a surprise appearance on SNL earlier this month alongside comic Michael, 40, for the ‘Weekend Update’ segment.

Michael, known to make light of women’s sports in his monologues, made a sexist joke about replacing Caitlin’s Iowa jersey – which will be retired by the school – with an apron.

It was then that she emerged on stage beside him before questioning why Michael mocks women’s sports so frequently – a claim he initially denied.

But Colin Jost, the cohost of the segment and husband of Scarlett Johansson, then played a montage of some of Michael’s brutal jokes on women’s basketball, to which he added: ‘Unlike Che, I support women.’

Before the end of the segment, Michael wished Caitlin luck in the draft, to which she responded: ‘I’m sure it will be a big step for me but it’s just one step for the WNBA.

Caitlin made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live earlier this month alongside cast member Michael Che for the ‘Weekend Update’ segment

During her appearance, Caitlin gave a shout out to her basketball heroes as she humbled Michael, 40

‘Thanks to all the great players like Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, Cynthia Cooper, the great Dawn Staley & my basketball hero Maya Moore.

‘These are the women that kicked down the door so I could walk inside. So, I want to thank them tonight for laying the foundation.’

Caitlin’s immense success playing college basketball for Iowa has cemented her status as a national superstar after she became the all-time leading scorer (men’s or women’s) in Division 1 history.

She was selected by the Indiana Fever with the first overall pick in the recent WNBA Draft.

Next month, she is expected to make her WNBA debut – and it’s been projected that she will earn up to $500,000 during her rookie season.

It comes after she reportedly signed a four-year, $338,056 deal with the team – an amount that many fans and media members thought was staggeringly low for the NCAA’s all-time points leader.

She is also on the cusp of signing a historic eight-year, $28million contract – including a signature shoe – with Nike. The deal would give her the richest sponsorship contract for a women’s basketball player.

After it was announced that Caitlin had been drafted by Indiana Pacers, she was targeted by Antonio Brown on social media, with the football player posting a series of vile comments about her.

The former NFL player, who has targeted Tom Brady with provocative posts in the past, caused outrage and offense by saying she ‘looks like she keeps it hairy.’

Ex-NFL player Brown appears to relish attempting to provoke stars on social media

Caitlin Clark is caught in ‘gross’ exchange with ‘sexist pervert’

He later returned with more insults, claiming Caitlin will get plastic surgery when her WNBA increases.

He also posted a crass meme referring to her boyfriend before following up with a tweet seemingly addressing the outrage that said: ‘Can’t be cancelled if you already cancelled.’

Hours later, Antonio said Caitlin should play in the NBA instead of the women’s equivalent.

‘I’ll say it again for the haters,’ he wrote. ‘Caitlin Clark should be a NBA Draft pick. Draft is weak. She is a generational talent This would be the year.’

Prior to this, Indy Star Sports reporter Gregg Doyel imitated the former Iowa star’s celebratory heart-hands gesture before saying: ‘Start doing it to me and we’ll get along just fine.’

The quip sparked outrage online as Barstool Sports boss Dave Portnoy branded him a ‘sexist pervert’ – leading Doyel to apologize for the suggestive exchange.

‘Today in my uniquely oafish way, while welcoming @CaitlinClark22 to Indy, I formed my hands into her signature [hand heart emoji,’ Doyel groveled to Twitter on Wednesday.

‘My comment afterward was clumsy and awkward. I sincerely apologize. Please know my heart (literally and figuratively) was well-intentioned. I will do better.’