How worried should Fever be about first loss without Caitlin Clark?

The Caitlin Clark effect can be felt even when the star guard isn't playing. 

On Wednesday, the Indiana Fever faced the Washington Mystics in Baltimore in their first game without Clark. She has suffered a left quadriceps injury and is expected to miss at least three more games before being reevaluated on June 9. 

The Fever didn't look like a championship contender without Clark, losing 83-77. Guard Sydney Colson replaced Clark, finishing with four points, three rebounds and three assists. 

"I think this was kind of a gut-punch for us," Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said in a postgame news conference. "We're going to come back to practice tomorrow with more focus, more energy. We know where we want to be at the end of the season, but we're not going to just get there."

A good way for the Fever to rebound from the loss would be shooting much better than they did on Wednesday night. Indiana went 25-of-63 from the field and 5-of-21 from three-point range. 

The Fever also failed to create offense in transition, scoring zero fast-break points. Through their first four games with Clark, they averaged 12.25 fast-break points per game. 

"Caitlin is really good at finding rim runners, getting the ball up the floor, and that's one where we gotta be better there," Fever head coach Stephanie White told the media. "You know, not relying so heavily on dribble handoffs and on-ball screens."

The Fever can take some positives from the loss to the Mystics. Forward DeWanna Bonner, whom they signed in free agency this offseason, scored a season-high 21 points. 

But even when they're getting significant contributions from other stars, it's apparent the Fever still tend to rely on Clark too much. According to ESPN's Alexa Philippou, the team averages 107.5 points per 100 possessions with Clark on the court, versus 87.7 points per 100 possessions without her.  

It's unclear when Clark will return, but White has stated that the team will take a "long-term approach" to her recovery. If she misses more games, the Fever (2-3) must find ways to win without her. Otherwise, they could fall into an early hole.