Caitlin Clark's return from injury was disappointing but encouraging

Indiana Fever fans were surely hoping for a different result than the 80-61 loss suffered at the hands of the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday. 

It was Caitlin Clark's first game back after a five-game absence due to injury, and in an important game against another contender, Indiana fell flat on its face, especially in the second half.

Clark played just 25 minutes, scoring 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting. She was also credited with four turnovers. 

As a team, the Fever struggled, shooting just 30.9% from the field as a team, and just 22.2% (6-of-22) from three-point range. 

In the grand scheme of things, it was a bad loss. If you fancy yourself as a championship contender, and Indiana does, with a league-high three All-Stars, the same as Seattle, this is the kind of game you need to win, or at least need to show up for.

However, there is a reason for Fever fans to feel optimistic. Clark might have only made two triples in the win, but that was double what she made in the previous three games, when she was 1-of-23.

Clark missed her first open three-pointer of the game. You wondered if the slump was going to continue. Yet, a mid-range jumper got her going, then Clark found nothing but nylon with a patented step-back three.